“I feel that you’ve been excellent from the primary day in Maranello till immediately.”
Lewis Hamilton just isn’t solely feeling the adulation of the Tifosi in addition to his new crew at Ferrari, but in addition the Italian press seems to be loving his arrival. To date, the curiosity and pleasure has been monumental, nevertheless it has all been based mostly on operating in earlier vehicles, or an look in his overalls on the O2 Area final evening.
Wednesday was an enormous milestone within the early a part of Hamilton’s newest chapter, as he drove what shall be his first Ferrari — the SF-25 — throughout a shakedown on the crew’s Fiorano check observe.
Whereas Charles Leclerc was the driving force getting requested concerning the modifications to the automotive and the preliminary feeling — one which he stated was constructive as nothing unfavourable stood out — Hamilton was talking extensively for the primary time about his transfer and what it has completed for his motivation and outlook, with one very clear purpose in thoughts.
“To me, it’s the primary — successful the championship for Ferrari is the primary,” Hamilton stated. “That’s what I’m working in direction of.
“I don’t take into consideration the quantity eight. I’m occupied with the primary championship that the crew has gained for a while. However they’ve already had many, many world championships over their historical past. So, for me, it’s on the lookout for that first one with the crew. And the way can I contribute to that? How can I assist them obtain that?”
However the quantity eight is unattainable to disregard given how it could transfer him one away from Michael Schumacher to face alone because the most-crowned driver in Formulation 1 historical past, and he’s attempting to do it with the crew Schumacher grew to become synonymous with.
After six weeks at Ferrari, and after talking to him twice this week, it seems like Hamilton’s personal perception has solely grown, and he admits he’s extra optimistic than ever of successful that eighth title.
“Sure [I’m more hopeful]. Sure, however I’m additionally conscious… there’s numerous drivers that by no means ever get to win a world championship, firstly. I’ve been lucky to work in two groups beforehand, work with nice organizations.
“You’ve seen within the historical past of the game, the place you’ve received nice groups and issues don’t align and so they find yourself, a few of them not successful world championships. However this crew already has an insane legacy. They’re not in need of what number of world championships they’ve gained. So I feel of their DNA, they’ve that successful mentality.
“The competitors is fierce and also you’ve had nice outcomes from different iconic groups. McLaren now, Pink Bull and clearly Mercedes. It’s going to be shut on the prime. However I’ve received an ideal teammate. The power that I’m receiving from the crew, there’s magic right here.
“It’s going to nonetheless take numerous arduous work and grafting from completely everybody, and everybody’s placing that in already to realize it. But it surely’s additionally about perception. Everybody right here goals of successful with Ferrari — each single individual on this crew.”
The way it feels to race alongside @LewisHamilton 😎 pic.twitter.com/JCp5B4tja9
— Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) February 19, 2025
Carrying the exact same dream, Leclerc emphasised how impressed he has been with Ferrari’s means to stay centered and constant in its work regardless of the “craziness” he can see surrounding it. Hamilton’s arrival arguably exceeds the hype that got here with two different a number of world champions making the identical transfer within the type of Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel, however their achievements are one thing the 40-year-old is eager to salute, with Alonso successful on his debut for Ferrari and Vettel taking victory in his second race.
“These guys did a tremendous job,” Hamilton stated. “I’ve big respect for these two drivers and having joined groups earlier than, the step it takes and the quantity of labor that goes on to acclimatizing is extraordinary and so it makes these outcomes that they’d much more distinctive than even I had appreciated earlier than.
“What I do know is that the testing is extra restricted than ever earlier than however luckily, I’ve had a very good little bit of time within the automotive. I’m nonetheless acclimatizing. It took me six months, I feel, in Mercedes to get my first win. Truthfully, I don’t know however I’m doing all the pieces I can to be prepared for race one.”
Testing of earlier automotive (TPC) outings have helped Hamilton put together and are an indication of how dedicated he’s to attempting to win with Ferrari. Testing has not often been certainly one of his favourite pastimes, however he has embraced it this time round as a result of he says his new residence requires a fair larger effort than he’s ever requested of himself earlier than.
“It’s given me much more appreciation, as I’ve talked about, about Sebastian and Fernando becoming a member of right here,” he stated. “I’ve watched over time, drivers transferring round — some transferring round much more than others — and I understand how lengthy it takes to construct belief and develop inside a crew and develop with individuals, as I’ve skilled that with Mercedes, I’ve skilled that with McLaren. I actually cherish the longevity that I had inside these locations and the bonds that we created in that point. They usually don’t occur in a single day.
“However this step is large. It couldn’t be any larger. The group is very large. The eagerness provides to it — from the followers, from the Tifosi, from the individuals inside — to that want to need to win. And also you don’t need to let individuals down. You need to have the ability to ship in your phrase.
Lewis and the tifosi 🤝 pic.twitter.com/z3tmwqHPAr
— Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) February 19, 2025
“How I made a decision to return into this yr, my decision, my mentality, is I have to elevate in completely each space on my aspect. It’s not simply, ‘That is who I’m and I’ve simply received to jel in.’ I’ve received to raise in each single [area]: My health, my time administration, how I interact with my engineers, how a lot time I spend within the manufacturing unit, all these various things. I’ve undoubtedly completed that and I’m doing that and I’ll proceed to try this on this attempt for perfection and to realize the success that I’m aiming to realize.
“But it surely’s numerous work, I’ve to say. The entire new tradition, totally different language, all the brand new manufacturers that I’m attending to work with — day by day is new, I’m experiencing one thing new, which truly is absolutely thrilling.
“And within the quick area of time, it’s actually not a very long time from the day you be a part of the crew to the primary race. Perhaps for you [media] guys, you’re feeling it’s drawn out, nevertheless it’s not — it’s very quick and there’s no shortcuts you can take. And we’re not taking it, we’re simply placing the work in and we’re grafting.”
The Italian journalist who had informed Hamilton he had been excellent to this point wished one phrase from him to sum up his expertise and emotions to this point.
“Emozionante,” was the one the seven-time world champion selected. As soon as once more, it’s arduous to say that’s something however the excellent match.
“We all know we’ve got an enormous quantity of labor to do. I do know that I have an enormous quantity of labor to do. I’m nonetheless acclimatizing — I’ve solely been right here a month, or simply over a month, so I’m nonetheless acclimatizing to a very new automotive, a very new means of working, however everybody’s bent over backwards on this crew to make me really feel welcome. And I actually really feel at residence.
“I do know I’m precisely the place I’m alleged to be. It feels pure. It feels proper.”
