Former Mercedes superstar and seven-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton, has expressed his renewed sense of enthusiasm and positivity towards his new racing experience with Ferrari, following the recent pre-season F1 testing. Hamilton, who has shifted to Scuderia Ferrari after clinching six drivers’ titles with the Brackley-based Mercedes team, welcomed the change with open arms.
Hamilton’s initial experience with the new Ferrari SF-25 has been nothing short of positive. In his own words, it has given him “the most positive feeling that I’ve had in a long time.” These comments came soon after his official Ferrari debut in Bahrain, where he successfully completed his run on the first two days without any hiccups. The final session on Friday was conducted privately, away from the public eye.
Hamilton did not shy away from subtly hinting at the issues he faced with the last three Mercedes cars he drove. He stated, “Over the last four years or so, I can’t judge [the cars] too much and take too much on my first outlook.” This statement was followed by a reflection on the earlier years when it was easier to gauge the potential of the previous generation cars early on.
The new season has posed a unique challenge for all 20 drivers, with only one and a half days to familiarize themselves with their respective cars before the opening race in Australia. However, Hamilton seemed unfazed by this, stating, “Personally, I like to just jump in deep and figure it out.” He went on to express his satisfaction with the progress made during this period, citing that they’ve built a “good foundation.”
In fact, Hamilton acknowledged the fierce competition out there while also praising his new team for their dedication and hard work. “Everyone knows these guys out there are really, really quick, really competitive. It looks very, very close. We might not know until [race week] where we stand, but we know that we’ve got work to do,” he said.
Hamilton’s admiration for his new team was evident when he spoke about his colleagues’ hardworking nature. He seemed to be particularly impressed by the night shift crew and their meticulous work processes.
In conclusion, Hamilton’s transition to Ferrari seems to have instilled a fresh wave of positivity and enthusiasm in him. The world awaits with bated breath to see how this new alliance will perform in the upcoming season.
