After a dozen seasons behind the wheel of a Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton is now preparing to rev up his first race in the iconic Ferrari red. This comes after signing a multi-year contract with Ferrari, marking a significant change in the seven-time World Champion’s career. As he steps up to the challenge of driving the Ferrari F1 car, Hamilton is not only adapting to a new engine but also a new way of working and an “upside down” race-trace that he finds intriguing.
Just shy of two months since Hamilton emerged from Enzo Ferrari’s house in Maranello dressed in a suit and overcoat, an attire he never agreed to wear under the management of his previous team boss Toto Wolff, he is now eagerly waiting to complete his first competitive laps in a Ferrari F1 car. The Tifosi are optimistic that this will mark the start of a championship quest.
However, as the F1 2025 season kicks off in Melbourne, it is believed that McLaren is the most likely team to triumph. Ferrari, on the other hand, states that their SF-25’s performance numbers align with their expectations, and the car adapts well to set-up variations.
Hamilton, however, is up for a challenge that goes beyond extracting the maximum from his car. He is adjusting to not only a different engine feel after 18 seasons with Mercedes power units but also the Ferrari F1 car and the team’s unique work approach.
When posed with a question about the pressure of joining one of Formula 1’s most iconic and successful teams during Thursday’s FIA press conference, Hamilton responded, “The pressure I put on myself has always been tenfold compared to any external pressure. I haven’t been made to feel any pressure since joining this team.”
Hamilton’s goal is to settle into a good rhythm and deliver results as soon as possible. However, he acknowledges that there will be a transition period where trust and relationships have to be built with the team. This process, Hamilton believes, will take up the better part of the first half of the F1 2025 season.
The 40-year-old driver is also still learning the ropes of his new car, which he says is vastly different from his previous Mercedes. Hamilton is excited about this new chapter, stating, “This is the most exciting period of my life. I’m enjoying it, and I can’t wait to get in the car.”
When asked about his expectations for the Australian Grand Prix and his debut race as a Ferrari driver, Hamilton expressed that he doesn’t have specific expectations but hopes to compete for the top five. His primary focus is to give his best and excel in the way he knows he can.
Hamilton’s transition from Mercedes to Ferrari signifies a new era in his career and Formula 1 history. As he gears up for his first race in Ferrari red, the entire F1 community eagerly awaits to see how this change will impact his racing career and the championship.
