When Lewis Hamilton put his racing costume Ferrari for the first time before his first test for the team last month, he needed a moment to adapt to his new look.
Although the implementation of a set of overalls is automatic for racing pilots, I finished thousands of times through their career, putting on the emblematic red of Ferrari is an honor granted to so little. And after 12 years in Mercedes’ money and black, it was a big change for Hamilton.
Finally, he was in Ferrari Red. The excitement and anticipation he felt was long. Now, after the launch of the F1 season in London and its first test in the 2025 car, this is a reality.
Such a wonder is something that only Ferrari can stir. Regardless of the number of world or racing championships you win, the feeling of being part of the most famous and famous F1 team is unrivaled. This is what made Hamilton want to move and why he radiated the excitement since his departure in Maranello in mid-January.
Near the new season and the official start of his next chapter, Hamilton’s enthusiasm has shown no sign to lie down. After a last year which gives to reflect with Mercedes which seemed to be part of the sparkling of his love for F1, often paralyzed by a underperforming car, Hamilton has a new spring in his step.
It is revitalized. Renewed. And, above all, he hopes that the eighth record world championship that he came in a victory tour in 2021 is again in his eyes to Ferrari.
“They have absolutely all the ingredients they need to win a world championship,” said Hamilton. “It is simply a question of gathering all the pieces.”
Adapting to a new environment is not something that Hamilton has done a lot during his F1 career.
Unlike the drivers of F1 companies – Tuesday, Carlos Sainz noted that he was led for half the grid in 10 years – Hamilton moved to his third team. It will be the first time that he has taken Mercedes and the first time that he did not run for an English team.
“This step is huge,” said Hamilton on Wednesday after his first test in Ferrari’s new car. “It couldn’t be bigger.” There has been a lot of adjustment, ranging from the vibration of the Ferrari engine behind it to the various functions and processes of the steering wheel. Hamilton feels a new appreciation for the drivers who made these switches and immediately succeeded, but he adopts the change.
“Every day, I feel something new, which is really exciting,” said Hamilton.
This includes learning Italian. While Ferrari organizes all his meetings in English, Hamilton began to take Italian lessons last year to better interact with his mechanics and engineers, such as the chatter of daily life. Learning a new language has always been one of Hamilton’s dreams. He even delivered an Italian speech to Ferrari’s Factory last week and is eager to immerse himself in Italian culture – including food. “Last week, I had three pizzas,” said Hamilton, noting that even if he actually lost weight, he knew he couldn’t continue.
Vasseur and Hamilton started SF-25 to F1 75 Live Tuesday. (Sam Bloxham / Getty Images)
The Hamilton effort made with his new colleagues did not go unnoticed. During his first day by visiting the factory, he tried to meet and shake hands with every 1,500 members of the team. “It is quite incredible with people,” said Jerome d’Ambrosio, the new deputy director of the Ferrari team who worked with Hamilton in Mercedes. “The team already loves him after the first day.”
Hamilton also appreciated many aspects that make Ferrari unique, such as the whole team under one roof – the Mercedes engine installation was 40 minutes by car from the headquarters of the F1 – and even a track of Test at the door.
Hamilton also works well with his new teammate, Charles Leclerc. Although the couple has chatted in the past, it was only at the official start of Hamilton in Ferrari that they could start working together. They already play chess games against each other, even during the live event of the F1 75 Tuesday at the O2 – Hamilton is 3-2, according to Leclerc. They show signs of a good partnership.
“The first weeks of collaboration between the two are Mega-Good,” said Fred Vasseur, director of the Ferrari team. “I am not surprised at all. We start in very good shape now. The most important thing is to maintain this relationship, to continue working in a team and to push as a team. »»
Vasseur said Hamilton was the “perfect fit” for Ferrari at the moment, while Leclerc thought that the Briton was joining the ideal point because the team’s mentality is now stronger than ever, partly thanks to Vasseur leadership . More in a reconstruction, the championship is a realistic objective for Ferrari.
“The fact that Lewis joined the team was a big boost and was incredible in many ways,” said Leclerc. “But I have the impression that the team is very, very calm and very calm and very clear in the direction of working and not being too affected by everything that is happening in the team. It’s extremely important and great to see. »»
What matters most is how Hamilton works when the new F1 season begins and how Ferrari compares to competition.
Hamilton was categorical Ferrari had all the ingredients to win the world championship for the first time since 2008. The team only dropped 14 points from the manufacturers’ crown last year, losing McLaren. An incredibly fine – but decisive margin. By entering a season where Vasseur expects four teams to be in the running for racing victories, each last thousandth of a second is important.
“It is not a question of completely changing the car or anything,” said Vasseur. “If we are able to bring a little performance on one or two subjects, it is already a huge step forward. And Lewis comes with his own experience, with his own history. It will help the team develop in each area. »»
Ferrari opted for a major design change with his car 2025: switching from a push-up suspension to a shooting design, believing that it would clean the air flow around the car and allow more aerodynamic development High after having exhausted all areas with the last time model of the year. Although the SF-25 is an evolution of the model of last year and that the concept of global car remains the same, the reduction of the learning curve that the team will cross, each part is new.
Even if Hamilton has confidence in Ferrari’s ability, he noted how fierce the competition is this year. “It is far too early to know what the year will look like,” said Hamilton. “What we know is that it will be very close between the best teams. We have not seen the other cars; We were not on the track with the other cars. »»
Lewis Hamilton welcomed fans at the end of the day of the Fiorano circuit on February 19, 2025. (Emmanuele Ciancaglini / Getty Images)
An eighth pilot title is the objective, but Hamilton’s appreciation for Ferrari is deep and he knows how important the end of the team team will be – if anything, given what extent Everyone has invested in Maranello (and through Italy) to get there to get there. . “This is what I work,” he said. “I don’t think about the eight number. I am thinking of the first championship that the team has won for some time. »»
Hamilton knows how hard work is still in the lead to prepare for the new season, but the spark he has rediscovered with this move to Ferrari is obvious from each interaction. It gave him a new breath in many ways. At 40, there is no sign that he thinks at the end of his F1 career. He feels young and remains in maximum physical condition. And this new project is only suspending it.
“The energy I receive from the team, there is magic here,” said Hamilton. “He will still take a lot of hard work and everyone’s transplant and everyone already puts that to achieve it.
“But it is also a question of belief. Everyone here dreams of winning with Ferrari, each person on this team. »»
After a few difficult years, this belief returns to Lewis Hamilton. The coming weeks reveal how authentic his title is in his first year in red. But for the moment, things feel good.
“I know I’m exactly where I am supposed to be,” said Hamilton. “It’s natural, it feels good.”
(Lewis Hamilton Top Photo: Sam Bloxham / Getty Images)