Some might see it as prophetic, others as mere coincidences. However, it is impossible to deny that certain similarities from the past are resurfacing in the present—like a red thread connecting Scuderia Ferrari to Ducati.
On various occasions and in different contexts, the reality we witness—whether as spectators or directly involved—seems to follow recurring patterns, much like a sequence of notes that appear in multiple melodies or the unfolding of a storyline that feels familiar yet inevitably different. A winning hand in a game of poker.
Starting from this premise, it is natural to wonder whether certain events from the early months of the 2025 motorsport season—mirroring past occurrences—can be read as prophetic signs, omens, or indicators of a future we anticipate (or perhaps one we merely wish to see). In Formula 1, a notable example was Lewis Hamilton crashing during the second test session in late January—one of his first major incidents as a Scuderia Ferrari driver at the Barcelona circuit. A strikingly similar event happened each time the Brit debuted with a new team (see McLaren in Valencia in 2007 and Mercedes in Jerez in 2013).
But in this story, there is a red thread connecting two legendary names in two of the biggest disciplines in motorsport: Lewis Hamilton and Marc Marquez—both world champions in their respective sports and both embarking on a new and significant chapter in their careers. The Briton with Ferrari, the Spaniard with Ducati.
With the MotoGP season kicking off last Sunday in Thailand, another piece of this narrative has fallen into place: Marquez’s victory in his first race wearing Ducati red. So what? Wasn’t this about Hamilton and Ferrari? True—but to fully grasp the “prophetic” aspect of this connection, we need to rewind to 2007.
That year, instead of Marc Marquez, the protagonist was Casey Stoner, making his debut with Ducati aboard the Desmosedici GP7. Not only did he win the season opener in Qatar, but he also went on to clinch the championship in his first year with the Italian manufacturer, marking a season of total dominance and ushering in a new era for MotoGP.
Meanwhile, in Formula 1, the man making his Ferrari debut wasn’t Lewis Hamilton (who, at the time, was just a rookie) but Kimi Räikkönen. The Finnish driver would go on to snatch the title from Hamilton and Fernando Alonso by a single, yet decisive, point—bringing the World Championship back to Maranello after a three-year drought. In other words, when a debuting Ducati rider wins, Ferrari follows suit.
Now that Ferrari’s title drought is approaching adulthood, there is little doubt about what the Tifosi are hoping for: seeing the Prancing Horse’s emblem on the Constructors’ Championship trophy at the end of the season, which kicks off in less than ten days in Melbourne. They dream of dethroning McLaren, the 2024 titleholders.
This season is shaping up to be an intense battle between the historic rivals McLaren and Ferrari, potentially setting the stage for a second act of last year’s dramatic showdown in Abu Dhabi. The British team seeks to defend its crown, while Ferrari aims to reclaim its place at the top—alongside the aspirations of Norris, Piastri, and Leclerc to win their first world title, and Hamilton’s ambition to cement his legacy by becoming the only driver to win eight championships. Eighteen years later, with last week’s testing in Sakhir hinting at an improved SF-25 in single-lap pace, Ferrari’s quest for its 17th Constructors’ Championship may not be as far-fetched as it once seemed. However, time will tell whether this supposed mystical connection between Italy’s two great motor racing powerhouses truly exists—and whether the parallel between the British driver and the Spanish MotoGP star holds any weight.
If we embrace this almost mystical perspective, all the ingredients for Ferrari’s championship bid under Fred Vasseur’s leadership in 2025 seem to be in place.
Photo: Ducati Corse, Scuderia Ferrari HP.
