Lewis Hamilton believes that this season could be Ferrari’s year after driving the Formula One team’s car for the first time on Wednesday, with a record eighth world title on the line.
Hamilton pleased expectant supporters by putting the new SF-25 vehicle through its paces at Ferrari’s home circuit in Fiorano Modenese, northern Italy, before stopping to salute fans hoping he can break the Italian team’s lengthy world title drought.
Ferrari had not won the constructors title since 2008
Kimi Raikkonen was the last driver to win the driver’s title with them the previous year, but when asked if he thought the ‘Scuderia’ were ready to win the world championship, Hamilton simply responded “yes”.
“I’ve worked with two world championship winning teams before, I know what a winning team looks and feels like,” Hamilton said to journalists.
“The passion here is beyond anything you’ve ever seen. They have everything they need to win a world championship; all they need to do now is put the pieces together.
“Everyone takes a really calm and positive approach. No one thinks we’re flawless in every way. Everyone is saying that we need to raise everywhere, and they are doing everything they can to do so.”
At 40 years old, Hamilton is not only F1’s biggest star, but also one of the sport’s elder statesmen.
But he is full of youthful enthusiasm for a new challenge at Ferrari, having fallen far behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in his final three seasons at Mercedes.
Since losing the 2021 drivers’ title to Verstappen in contentious circumstances in the final race, Hamilton has finished sixth, third, and seventh in 2024, 214 points behind his Dutch opponent, who has won the last four championships.
‘Wave of Life’
Hamilton stated in a video published by Ferrari earlier on Wednesday that he believed “nothing was ever going to be new again,” and he is plainly surprised by the new lease on life he is feeling.
“When I was much younger I definitely didn’t think in my 19th season or 19th year, whatever it is, that I would be this excited,” Hamilton recalled.
“I never expected to be so excited at this stage in my career. Wanting to arrive at work early, willing to go above and beyond to attain the dream… I’ve just felt a surge of life and energy.
“For me, this is the first. The first championship came with Ferrari. That is what I am working for. I do not think about the number eight. I’m thinking about the first championship the squad has won in quite some time.”
Hamilton still has a lot to prove
Despite his many accomplishments, Hamilton still has a lot to prove. He won only two Grands Prix last year, and his triumph in the British Grand Prix in July stopped a two-and-a-half year winless skid that dated back to the now-infamous 2021 season.
And he confesses that he will need to adjust to his new surroundings before he can recapture his golden years with Mercedes.
“We know we have a huge amount of work to do; I know that I have a huge amount of work to do,” according to him.
Lewis Hamilton makes his F1 debut in a 2025 Ferrari. – Basesport
“But everyone on this team has gone above and beyond to make me feel welcome, and I truly feel at home. I know I’m exactly where I should be; it seems natural and right, so I believe we simply need to keep putting in the time and taking things one step at a time.
“I’m doing everything I can to be ready for race one.”
Hamilton will have his first significant drive in his new car during next week’s winter testing session in Bahrain, ahead of next month’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
Hamilton confident of Ferrari glory after taking wheel of new F1 car – Yahoo Sport
Leave a Reply