Lewis Hamilton made his highly anticipated track debut for Ferrari on Wednesday at the legendary Maranello circuit, nearly a year after the seven-time world champion shocked the racing world by announcing his departure from Mercedes. The move marks a seismic shift in Formula 1, with Hamilton embarking on a new chapter with Ferrari, a team hungry to end its 17-year world championship drought.
Speaking to LinkedIn’s Get Hired newsletter on Thursday, Hamilton candidly shared his perspective on the risks and rewards of his career-altering decision.
Hamilton embraces the challenge of change
“Ultimately, every new opportunity is a total leap of faith,” Hamilton reflected. “None of us can predict the future, so changing jobs—or in my case, teams—is always going to come with some level of risk.”
At 40 years old, the British racing icon is not one to shy away from challenges. For nearly two decades, Hamilton defined excellence at Mercedes, clinching six of his seven world titles with the Silver Arrows. However, he believes that staying too long in one place can stifle growth.
“There’s more risk in staying somewhere you’re comfortable and getting complacent,” Hamilton explained. This mindset drove him to take the monumental leap to Ferrari, the sport’s most iconic team, signaling his readiness to tackle a new challenge.
The instinct behind the move
Hamilton acknowledged that leaving Mercedes, where he has been since 2013, was not an easy decision. However, he described a powerful instinct guiding him toward Ferrari.
“Call it instinct or a gut feeling, but I knew that signing with Ferrari was the right move for me and that it would give me the challenge I needed,” he said. Hamilton’s belief in Ferrari’s potential is unwavering: “There are so many incredible people in the team that I can’t wait to work with, and I have total faith that we’ll achieve great things together.”
Ferrari’s uphill climb and Hamilton’s role
Ferrari hasn’t clinched a driver’s title since Kimi Räikkönen’s championship-winning season in 2007. The team has faced years of inconsistency and strategic missteps, but Hamilton’s arrival injects renewed hope. His leadership, vast experience, and ability to develop a team are viewed as critical components in Ferrari’s quest to return to dominance.
Hamilton’s first official test drive in the 2023 SF-23 at Fiorano focused on acclimating to the car, fine-tuning control systems, and building rapport with the team. Despite the test being a preliminary step, the move is already being hailed as the dawn of a potentially historic partnership.
Looking ahead to Australia
Hamilton’s Ferrari debut will come at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, set to take place from March 14-16, 2025. With the world watching, the partnership between Hamilton and Ferrari promises to be one of the most compelling narratives of the upcoming F1 season.
While the risks of such a bold career move are evident, Hamilton’s optimism and faith in Ferrari’s potential underline his readiness to tackle what could be the most challenging and rewarding phase of his illustrious career.