As Lewis Hamilton embarks on his new journey with Ferrari, he openly shares the initial hurdles he’s encountering, as he adjusts to the intricacies of the team’s car and power unit. This transition marks a significant change in his racing approach and presents one of the first significant challenges in the illustrious career of the seven-time world champion since trading his Silver Arrows for the Prancing Horse.
Hamilton’s shocking decision to depart from Mercedes, after a successful 11-year tenure that saw him secure 84 Grand Prix victories, left the racing community in stunned silence. However, the silence soon gave way to a wave of anticipation surrounding his intriguing move to Maranello.
As the 2025 Formula 1 season inches closer, excitement is mounting for both Hamilton and the passionate followers of the Italian team. This fervor is reaching fever pitch as we draw nearer to the Australian Grand Prix, slated to take place at the Albert Park Circuit from March 14-16.
For the first time in over a decade, Hamilton finds himself navigating unfamiliar waters. He concedes that he has had to adjust his driving style to align with the unique features of the Ferrari SF-25, presenting a new set of challenges alongside his fresh team.
As a Brit who spent the entirety of F1’s hybrid era with Mercedes, Hamilton was deeply ingrained in their engineering philosophy and operational setup. Now, however, he is faced with the challenge of acclimating to a completely new environment—an environment that demands not just technical adaptability, but also a cultural shift.
“Adjusting to a new car and a new way of working is still a process for me,” Hamilton shared with the media, including Total-Motorsport.com. “I’ve had to adapt my driving style. It’s uncommon for everything to fit perfectly the first time you hop in a new car. For instance, the steering and switch positions are entirely different. Even the software is different. I’m learning to adapt to all these new elements.”
This transition differs significantly from his previous team move from McLaren’s Mercedes-powered car to the works team in 2013, as he now finds himself in a brand-new setup, far removed from his familiar territory in the UK.
Ferrari’s headquarters, located some 853 miles away from Brackley in Maranello, operates in its own unique way. This has required Hamilton to learn a new approach to car development, race preparation, and even the day-to-day operations of the team.
From the layout of the steering wheel to the characteristics of the power unit and even the team’s terminology, Hamilton acknowledges a steep learning curve. While he could operate a Mercedes instinctively, Ferrari’s hybrid systems and setup processes are entirely different.
Despite these initial challenges, the 105-time Grand Prix winner remains undeterred, continuously familiarizing himself with his new machine. He is also preparing for perhaps the boldest challenge of his career—going head-to-head with Ferrari’s homegrown talent, Charles Leclerc.
Hamilton, however, isn’t intimidated by this challenge. Instead, he is more focused on ensuring he arrives in Australia in the best possible shape to clinch what could be his ninth pole position at the Australian GP.
“I actually feel quite good in the car,” Hamilton expressed, reflecting on his settling in period. “I’m taking each step as it comes. The more real races we participate in, the clearer it becomes how much we are on the same page and where I still need to make adjustments. The key is to approach it dynamically. I’m confident that with my experience, it will all come together.”
