When Lewis Hamilton placed on his Ferrari race go well with for the primary time forward of his maiden take a look at for the group final month, he wanted a second to regulate to his new look.
Whereas placing on a set of overalls is automated for racing drivers, accomplished 1000’s of instances via their careers, donning the long-lasting purple of Ferrari is an honor bestowed on so few. And after 12 years within the silver and black of Mercedes, this was a giant change for Hamilton.
Finally, he was in Ferrari purple. The joy and anticipation he felt had been lengthy within the making. Now, after F1’s season launch in London and his first take a look at within the 2025 automotive, it’s a actuality.
Such surprise is one thing solely Ferrari can stir. Irrespective of what number of world championships or races you win, the sensation of being a part of F1’s most famed, profitable group is unmatched. It’s what made Hamilton wish to make the transfer and why he has radiated pleasure since beginning at Maranello in the midst of January.
Nearing the brand new season and the official begin of his subsequent chapter, Hamilton’s enthusiasm has proven zero signal of subsiding. After a sobering closing yr with Mercedes that appeared to sap a number of the fizz from his love for F1, typically hamstrung by an underperforming automotive, Hamilton has a recent spring in his step.
He’s revitalized. Renewed. And, importantly, he’s hopeful the record-breaking eighth world championship he got here inside one lap of successful in 2021 is inside his sights as soon as once more at Ferrari.
“They’ve bought completely each ingredient they should win a world championship,” Hamilton stated. “It’s nearly placing all of the items collectively.”
Adjusting to a brand new atmosphere shouldn’t be one thing Hamilton has completed loads throughout his F1 profession.
In contrast to extra journeymen F1 drivers — on Tuesday, Carlos Sainz famous he’s pushed for half the grid in 10 years — Hamilton is transferring to simply his third group. Will probably be the primary time he has pushed with out Mercedes engines and the primary time he’s not racing for an English group.
“This step is large,” Hamilton stated on Wednesday after his first take a look at in Ferrari’s new automotive. “It couldn’t be any greater.” There’s been loads of adjustment, starting from the vibration of the Ferrari engine behind him to the totally different steering wheel capabilities and processes. Hamilton feels a newfound appreciation for drivers who’ve made these switches and been profitable instantly, however he’s embracing the change.
“Each day, I’m experiencing one thing new, which really is de facto thrilling,” Hamilton stated.
That features studying Italian. Whereas Ferrari conducts all of its conferences in English, Hamilton began taking Italian classes final yr to work together higher along with his mechanics and engineers, like chit-chatting about day-to-day life. Studying a brand new language has at all times been one among Hamilton’s goals. He even gave a speech in Italian at Ferrari’s manufacturing unit final week and is raring to immerse himself in Italian tradition — together with the meals. “Final week, I had three pizzas,” Hamilton revealed, noting that whereas he has certainly misplaced weight, he knew he couldn’t maintain that up.
Vasseur and Hamilton debuted the SF-25 at F1 75 Reside on Tuesday. (Sam Bloxham/Getty Photographs)
The trouble Hamilton has made along with his new colleagues has not gone unnoticed. On his first day visiting the manufacturing unit, he tried to fulfill and shake arms with all 1,500 group members. “He’s fairly superb with individuals,” stated Jerome d’Ambrosio, Ferrari’s new deputy group principal who labored with Hamilton at Mercedes. “The group already loves him after the primary day.”
Hamilton has additionally loved many points that make Ferrari distinctive, comparable to having the complete group beneath one roof — Mercedes’ engine facility was a 40-minute drive from the F1 group headquarters — and even a take a look at monitor on its doorstep.
Hamilton can be already working nicely along with his new teammate, Charles Leclerc. Whereas the pair had chatted prior to now, it was solely upon Hamilton’s official begin at Ferrari that they might begin working collectively. They’re already taking part in video games of chess towards one another, even throughout Tuesday’s F1 75 Reside occasion at The O2 — Hamilton is 3-2 up, in accordance with Leclerc. They’re displaying indicators of partnership.
“The primary weeks of collaboration between the 2 is mega-good,” stated Ferrari group principal Fred Vasseur. “I’m not stunned in any respect. We’re beginning in excellent form now. Crucial factor is to maintain this relationship, to proceed to work as a group, and to push as a group.”
Vasseur stated Hamilton was the “good match” for Ferrari proper now, whereas Leclerc thought the Briton was becoming a member of on the superb level because the group’s mentality is now stronger than ever, partly because of Vasseur’s management. Now not in a rebuild, the championship is a sensible aim for Ferrari.
“The very fact Lewis has joined the group has been a giant increase and has been superb in so some ways,” Leclerc stated. “However I really feel just like the group could be very, very calm and really calm and really clear in what’s the course to work in and never getting too affected by every part that is happening across the group. That’s extraordinarily vital and nice to see.”
What issues most is how Hamilton performs when the brand new F1 season begins and the way Ferrari compares to the competitors.
Hamilton was adamant Ferrari had all of the substances to win the world championship for the primary time since 2008. The group solely fell 14 factors shy of the constructors’ crown final yr, dropping to McLaren. An extremely wonderful margin — however a decisive one. Getting into a season the place Vasseur expects 4 groups to be in rivalry for race wins, each final thousandth of a second will matter.
“It’s not a matter of fixing the automotive utterly or no matter,” stated Vasseur. “If we’re in a position to convey a small little bit of efficiency on one or two subjects, it’s already an enormous step ahead. And Lewis is coming along with his personal expertise, along with his personal background. He’ll assist the group to develop in each single space.”
Ferrari opted for one main design change with its 2025 automotive: switching from a push-rod suspension to a pull-rod design, believing it will clear up the airflow across the automotive and permit for better aerodynamic improvement after it had exhausted all areas with final yr’s mannequin. Though the SF-25 is an evolution of final yr’s mannequin and the general automotive idea stays the identical, lowering the educational curve the group will undergo, each single half is new.
Even when Hamilton has confidence in Ferrari’s title-winning capacity, he famous simply how fierce the competitors is ready to be this yr. “It’s far too early to know what the yr goes to be like,” Hamilton stated. “What we do know is that it’s going to be very shut between the highest groups. We’ve not seen the opposite automobiles; we’ve not been on the monitor with the opposite automobiles.”
Lewis Hamilton greets followers on the finish of the day’s working at Fiorano Circuit on February 19, 2025. (Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Photographs)
An eighth drivers’ title is the aim, however Hamilton’s appreciation for Ferrari runs deep and he is aware of how important ending the group’s title drought can be — if something, extra important given how invested everybody at Maranello (and throughout Italy) is to make it occur. “That’s what I’m working in direction of,” he stated. “I don’t take into consideration the quantity eight. I’m desirous about the primary championship that the group has received for a while.”
Hamilton is aware of how a lot laborious work nonetheless lies forward to prepare for the brand new season, however the spark he has rediscovered with this transfer to Ferrari is clear from each single interplay. It has given him a recent lease of life in some ways. At 40, there isn’t a signal he is considering how his F1 profession could finish. He feels younger and stays in peak bodily situation. And this new mission is barely spurring him on.
“The power that I’m receiving from the group, there’s magic right here,” Hamilton stated. “It’s going to nonetheless take a whole lot of laborious work and grafting from completely everybody and everyone seems to be placing that in already to realize it.
“However it’s additionally about perception. Everybody right here goals of successful with Ferrari, each single particular person on this group.”
After a troublesome few years, that perception is coming again to Lewis Hamilton. The approaching weeks will reveal simply how real his title chances are high in his first yr in purple. However for now, issues really feel good.
“I do know I’m precisely the place I’m purported to be,” Hamilton stated. “It feels pure, it feels proper.”
(High picture of Lewis Hamilton: Sam Bloxham/Getty Photographs)