Lewis Hamilton has been left in little question that he has made the precise determination to affix Ferrari.
The seven-time world champion was talking after his first drive in Ferrari’s challenger for 2025 at a shakedown run on the crew’s check monitor in Fiorano.
Hamilton, who lit up the F1 75 livery launch in London’s O2 Enviornment on Tuesday night, revealed he has tried to combine himself into the Italian crew by dwelling in his motorhome, which is parked on the crew’s Maranello manufacturing facility.
When requested if he thought he had made the precise transfer having pushed this season’s Ferrari, he stated: “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 ideal privilege to be right here, to affix this crew and to work with everybody to attempt to construct and proceed the good historic custom of this crew.
“Each day has been thrilling. Even final evening, strolling on that stage [at the F1 75 livery event] wearing purple was one thing completely new for me.
“To have the ability to meet and expertise the followers is one thing very completely different doing it as an opponent or doing it as a Ferrari driver.
“To start a journey along with them and the crew 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 crew. The 40-year-old has been rejuvenated by the transfer and is now adjusting to the brand new problem.
When requested how completely different driving the Ferrari was to his previous Mercedes vehicles, he added: “Ferrari could be very completely different. From the second you placed on the go well with and enter the storage, placed on the helmet and enter the cockpit, you’re feeling that unimaginable ardour.
“It is all thrilling and thrilling. It has an unimaginable historical past with this crew, 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 automotive round Barcelona throughout a three-day personal check, the place he additionally crashed.
Nonetheless, in his brief spell on the crew he has stated he has seen sufficient to know they’ve “all of the substances to win”.
Hamilton stated: “From seeing the fervour, every little thing beneath one roof, which I’ve by no means skilled earlier than, this crew has completely each ingredient to win.
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Picture by: Getty Photographs
“However we’re additionally conscious we’ve got to proceed to work. We’ve to enhance and elevate in all places – not in all places however in sure areas, and I’ve little question that we will try this.
“I’ve genuinely beloved each day I’ve been right here. It is a spot you genuinely do not actually need to depart within the day. All the things’s right here. Even my motorhome is right here so I do not ever depart!”
Hamilton was joined by his team-mate Charles Leclerc, who stated the Brit was becoming a member of the crew “on the proper time”.
He added: “Lewis becoming a member of the crew has been a giant increase and has been wonderful in so many areas. I really feel just like the crew could be very calm and clear in what’s the course to work in and never being affected by every little thing happening within the crew.
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“We had automotive nevertheless it wanted extra efficiency, and that’s the place we centered on this automotive. We centered on small issues in each space.”
Hamilton was additionally requested about his new team-mate, who joined the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2016. He stated: “Charles could be very embedded on this crew. He’s very quick and I’m fully conscious of that.
“It’s not going to be simple to beat him, however we are going to work collectively and have some nice races, I hope.”
Pictures from the Ferrari Shakedown
On this article
Ben Hunt
Formulation 1
Lewis Hamilton
Ferrari
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