Nothing has ever motivated greater than the naysayers of this world. The place the sceptics see adversity, Hamilton sees alternative. And final month, the seven-time world champion had a message for the doubters forward of essentially the most anticipated section of his glittering Formulation One profession.
“Don’t ever evaluate me to anybody else,” he Time. “I’m the primary and solely Black driver that’s ever been on this sport. I’m constructed completely different… I’m hungry, pushed, don’t have a spouse or children. I’m targeted on one factor and that’s profitable.”
Has the Hamilton- hype prepare caught you but? If that’s the case, what drew you in? Was it the of week one, showing in a black go well with and Ferrari race gear in Maranello for the primary time? Was it London, 75 Stay and its ? Or was it Bahrain, Milan, and now Melbourne, because the sight of F1’s joint-most profitable driver in peerless scarlet pink turns into the brand new actuality?
Regardless, some 13 months on from essentially the most startling and glowing , the speaking stops this weekend with Hamilton’s debut within the iconic colors of the prancing horse in Australia. It marks the beginning of a 24-race journey in 2025, which, regardless of the outcome, will enthral F1’s fanatical fanbase and, by extension, the sporting world.
Can he win a record-breaking eighth world championship, taking him forward of Ferrari legend ? It’s a far-fetched risk. The bookies will let you know he’s fourth-favourite – and maybe even that could be a tad beneficiant. Hamilton is coming into this 2025 season off the again of his and a torrid qualifying file, following three years of frustration in a capricious breed of Mercedes automotive.
However as a result of it’s Hamilton – and since it’s Ferrari – it’s nonetheless a risk. Nothing will get his juices flowing greater than a aggressive automotive beneath him.
“I feel the transfer is completely sensible,” Nigel Mansell, the final English driver to race for Ferrari full-time, tells The Impartial. The devoted tifosi fanbase christened Mansell “Il Leone” (The Lion), after his two-year stint in 1989-1990.
“Lewis is intelligent. He will get the assist required all through his profession, leading to an incredible quantity of world championships. I don’t assume Lewis could have too many challenges at Ferrari – he’ll embrace it and the followers will embrace him.”
You’ll be able to say that once more. Hamilton’s first weeks, which he described as “magic”, have turned heads and cashed cheques. His first Ferrari-related Instagram publish, at 5.7 million likes, grew to become essentially the most favored F1 publish of all time on the platform. Ferrari merchandise gross sales have soared by 400 per cent; the corporate’s worth rose greater than 10 per cent to virtually £5.5bn following the announcement of his transfer final February.
“It was a unbelievable ambiance,” says Haas and , who was current in Maranello with 1000’s surrounding the manufacturing unit in that first week.
“It was very cool to be there on such a historic day that may in all probability be remembered as a landmark day in F1 historical past.”
Lewis Hamilton’s F1 ending positions
2007 – 2nd (McLaren)
2008 – 1st
2009 – fifth
2010 – 4th
2011 – fifth
2012 – 4th
2013 – 4th
2014 – 1st
2015 – 1st
2016 – 2nd
2017 – 1st
2018 – 1st
2019 – 1st
2020 – 1st
2021 – 2nd
2022 – sixth
2023 – third
2024 – seventh
At this level, it needs to be famous that not all of the discourse has been complimentary. In addition to critics comparable to ex-F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone and former staff proprietor Eddie Jordan, the previous Ferrari chief Mattia Binotto, now heading up the Sauber (soon-to-be Audi) undertaking, remarked final 12 months that the pair have been, the truth is, not a superb match.
“He’s a driver perhaps on the unsuitable facet of his profession,” he mentioned. “I’d say if you wouldn’t have signed Lewis immediately, Max [Verstappen] would have been in a Ferrari subsequent 12 months.”
However Binotto is within the minority. Finally, Ferrari, as an organization and as a fanbase, discover vindication and pleasure within the adoration of their superstars. And Hamilton little question likes to be cherished.
“For me, Lewis and Ferrari are the proper match,” former Ferrari engineer Rob Smedley says. Mockingly, Hamilton was Smedley’s arch-rival when he was Felipe Massa’s race engineer within the well-known 2008 season.
“Lewis transcended the game a very long time in the past. He’s a driver who has that magic of his personal and for those who hyperlink him up with Ferrari, who’ve that aura too, then it was at all times going to set off this synergetic explosion. From the outset, it appears to me a wedding made in heaven.”
But the stratospheric degree of fandom and anticipation mustn’t imply Hamilton’s fluctuating performances over the past three years are missed.
Simply how dangerous was Hamilton’s qualifying file in 2024?
Bahrain – ninth
Saudi Arabia – eighth
Australia – eleventh
Japan – seventh
China – 18th
Miami – eighth
Imola – eighth
Monaco – seventh
Canada – seventh
Spain – third
Austria – fifth
Nice Britain – 2nd
Hungary – fifth
Belgium – 4th
Netherlands – twelfth
Italy – sixth
Azerbaijan – seventh
Singapore – third
USA – nineteenth
Mexico – sixth
Brazil – sixteenth
Las Vegas – tenth
Qatar – sixth
Abu Dhabi – 18th
Common: 8.5
Daring signifies race win
Concern over his shows final 12 months in comparison with Mercedes teammate George Russell – significantly in qualifying, with the Brit 13 years youthful strikingly main their head-to-head 19-5 – won’t abate till Hamilton exhibits indicators of fast one-lap tempo in the beginning of this marketing campaign.
Aligned with that comes the alongside Charles Leclerc – with the chance of the pair taking factors off one another, in the same vein to McLaren’s coverage of two No 1 drivers – who many imagine to be the quickest qualifier within the sport.
Hamilton himself was alarmed, on the again finish of final 12 months, along with his velocity on a Saturday. Three phrases have been all it took: he mentioned.
However that is precisely why a contemporary begin, a brand new problem, might be the catalyst which sparks the 40-year-old again into title rivalry once more.
Smedley provides: “Lewis’s greatest problem is to carry his personal imitable fashion of how he does enterprise in F1, all that acumen and information of profitable races, however doing it harmoniously with Ferrari.
“His brilliance can not turn out to be a millstone for Ferrari however one thing that helps them ship that further 2 per cent, which motivates the entire staff. That’s all they want.”
Whereas a lot is new – Hamilton is studying Italian and has demonstrated a willingness to step outdoors his consolation zone and take a look at in public already – there’s familiarity throughout the staff. Staff principal was his boss again at GP2 degree in 2006, a 12 months previous to his F1 debut, whereas long-time coach and ally Angela Cullen is again in his nook after departing two years in the past.
Hamilton additionally switched from Mercedes to Ferrari alongside engineer Loic Serra and deputy staff principal Jerome d’Ambrosio. Alongside supervisor Marc Hynes and, in fact, his father Anthony, Hamilton has the strongest of assist networks surrounding him. He has left no stone unturned.
All of it mixed has made him a determine “reborn”, to make use of the phrase of Verstappen final month. Hamilton himself acknowledged that he has educated like he’s by no means educated earlier than within the low season, forward of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix this Sunday. A race he retired from final 12 months on account of an engine failure; he can ill-afford that form of begin this time round.
It could be foolhardy to utterly dismiss Hamilton’s title prospects in 2025, even with, Verstappen and Leclerc all with shorter odds to their identify. Hamilton’s race nous and craft are nonetheless evident – as illustrated by his – and may a title race develop, his expertise in such circumstances can solely be a profit.
Hamilton is a driver, and a person, utterly rejuvenated in the beginning of this 12 months. And why shouldn’t he be? Ought to he win quantity eight with Ferrari, it will be the best profession finale this sport has ever seen.
