'He won't succumb to that' - Lewis Hamilton handed Ferrari pressure support by top F1 pundit

Former F1 driver Martin Brundle is confident Lewis Hamilton will not falter under the pressure he faces at Ferrari this year.

Hamilton, who has joined the Italian squad after 12 seasons at Mercedes, completed his pre-season preparations last week in Bahrain.

Ferrari typically faces increased media pressure compared to other squads, especially in Italy, due to its long and successful association with the sport.

However, Brundle has backed Hamilton to use his extensive experience to handle the scrutiny.

“I don’t think Lewis will feel any pressure,” Brundle told Sky Sports News. “He’s been there, seen it, done it and won it.

“He’s won seven championships, he will not succumb to that.”

Hamilton will partner Charles Leclerc during the upcoming season as the Monégasque racer enters his seventh season in the famous red.

Brundle acknowledged the upper hand Leclerc has as Hamilton is forced to adjust to operations at a new team - but highlighted key elements the seven-time champion has put in place to ensure he is well prepared.

“Leclerc has been there six or seven years, he knows where all the green buttons are,” Brundle added.

“He knows how to make things happen at Ferrari, Lewis is new in.

“He’s taken along with him Angela [Cullen] again now, his physio. Mark Hines is back with him.

“Lewis has put as much around him as he can, knowing he’s going into a completely different culture of team.

“He’s got to find his way. He has a new engineer as well, and that’s a lot to take on board, especially when your team-mate in Charles Leclerc is so fast and so well-embedded in the team.”