Lewis Hamilton has been left in little question that he has made the precise resolution to hitch Ferrari.
The seven-time world champion was talking after his first drive in Ferrari’s challenger for 2025 at a shakedown run on the workforce’s check observe in Fiorano.
Hamilton, who lit up the F1 75 livery launch in London’s O2 Area on Tuesday night, revealed he has tried to combine himself into the Italian workforce by dwelling in his motorhome, which is parked on the workforce’s Maranello manufacturing facility.
When requested if he thought he had made the precise transfer having pushed this season’s Ferrari, he mentioned: “100%. I haven’t got the slightest doubt or query in my head. I am in the precise place on the proper time and it is an amazing privilege to be right here, to hitch this workforce and to work with everybody to attempt to construct and proceed the good historic custom of this workforce.
“Daily has been thrilling. Even final evening, strolling on that stage [at the F1 75 livery event] wearing crimson was one thing completely new for me.
“To have the ability to meet and expertise the followers is one thing very totally different doing it as an opponent or doing it as a Ferrari driver.
“To start a journey along with them and the workforce is one thing that left me speechless.”
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Hamilton’s wave of positivity comes after a winter of readjusting to life with the Italian workforce. The 40-year-old has been rejuvenated by the transfer and is now adjusting to the brand new problem.
When requested how totally different driving the Ferrari was to his previous Mercedes automobiles, he added: “Ferrari may be very totally different. From the second you placed on the swimsuit and enter the storage, placed on the helmet and enter the cockpit, you are feeling that unbelievable ardour.
“It is all thrilling and thrilling. It has an unbelievable historical past with this workforce, and as a child it was a dream for me to have the ability to race for Ferrari, and I nonetheless pinch myself to have the ability to consider that it is actually taking place. I’ve so many expectations.”
Hamilton had beforehand pushed a 2022 Ferrari at Fiorano in January earlier than taking a 2023 F1 automobile round Barcelona throughout a three-day personal check, the place he additionally crashed.
Nevertheless, in his brief spell on the workforce he has mentioned he has seen sufficient to know they’ve “all of the elements to win”.
Hamilton mentioned: “From seeing the fervour, the whole lot beneath one roof, which I’ve by no means skilled earlier than, this workforce has completely each ingredient to win.
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Picture by: Getty Photographs
“However we’re additionally conscious we’ve to proceed to work. Now we have to enhance and elevate all over the place – not all over the place however in sure areas, and I’ve little question that we will do this.
“I’ve genuinely liked on daily basis I’ve been right here. It is a spot you genuinely do not actually wish to go away within the day. Every little thing’s right here. Even my motorhome is right here so I do not ever go away!”
Hamilton was joined by his team-mate Charles Leclerc, who mentioned the Brit was becoming a member of the workforce “on the proper time”.
He added: “Lewis becoming a member of the workforce has been a giant enhance and has been wonderful in so many areas. I really feel just like the workforce may be very calm and clear in what’s the course to work in and never being affected by the whole lot occurring within the workforce.
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“We had automobile nevertheless it wanted extra efficiency, and that’s the place we targeted on this automobile. We targeted on small issues in each space.”
Hamilton was additionally requested about his new team-mate, who joined the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2016. He mentioned: “Charles may be very embedded on this workforce. He’s very quick and I’m fully conscious of that.
“It’s not going to be straightforward to beat him, however we’ll work collectively and have some nice races, I hope.”
Pictures from the Ferrari Shakedown
On this article
Ben Hunt
System 1
Lewis Hamilton
Ferrari
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