“I think that you have been perfect from the first day in Maranello until today.”
Lewis Hamilton is not only feeling the adulation of the Tifosi as well as his new team at Ferrari, but also the Italian press appears to be loving his arrival. So far, the interest and excitement has been enormous, but it has all been based on running in previous cars, or an appearance in his overalls at the O2 Arena last night.
Wednesday was a big milestone in the early part of Hamilton’s latest chapter, as he drove what will be his first Ferrari — the SF-25 — during a shakedown at the team’s Fiorano test track.
While Charles Leclerc was the driver getting asked about the changes to the car and the initial feeling — one that he said was positive as nothing negative stood out — Hamilton was speaking extensively for the first time about his move and what it has done for his motivation and outlook, with one very clear goal in mind.
“To me, it’s the first — winning the championship for Ferrari is the first,” Hamilton said. “That’s what I’m working towards.
“I don’t think about the number eight. I’m thinking about the first championship that the team has won for some time. But they’ve already had many, many world championships over their history. So, for me, it’s looking for that first one with the team. And how can I contribute to that? How can I help them achieve that?”
But the number eight is impossible to ignore given how it would move him one clear of Michael Schumacher to stand alone as the most-crowned driver in Formula 1 history, and he’s trying to do it with the team Schumacher became synonymous with.
After six weeks at Ferrari, and after speaking to him twice this week, it feels like Hamilton’s own belief has only grown, and he admits he is more optimistic than ever of winning that eighth title.
“Yes . Yes, but I’m also aware… there’s a lot of drivers that never ever get to win a world championship, first and foremost. I’ve been fortunate to work in two teams previously, work with great organizations.
“You’ve seen in the history of the sport, where you’ve got great teams and things don’t align and they end up, some of them not winning world championships. But this team already has an insane legacy. They’re not short of how many world championships they’ve won. So I think in their DNA, they have that winning mentality.
“The competition is fierce and you’ve had great results from other iconic teams. McLaren now, Red Bull and obviously Mercedes. It’s going to be close at the top. But I’ve got a great teammate. The energy that I’m receiving from the team, there’s magic here.
“It’s going to still take a lot of hard work and grafting from absolutely everyone, and everyone’s putting that in already to achieve it. But it’s also about belief. Everyone here dreams of winning with Ferrari — every single person in this team.”
How it feels to race alongside @LewisHamilton 😎 pic.twitter.com/JCp5B4tja9
— Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) February 19, 2025
Carrying the very same dream, Leclerc emphasized how impressed he has been with Ferrari’s ability to remain focused and consistent in its work despite the “craziness” he can see surrounding it. Hamilton’s arrival arguably exceeds the hype that came with two other multiple world champions making the same move in the form of Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel, but their achievements are something the 40-year-old is keen to salute, with Alonso winning on his debut for Ferrari and Vettel taking victory in his second race.
“Those guys did an amazing job,” Hamilton said. “I have huge respect for those two drivers and having joined teams before, the step it takes and the amount of work that goes on to acclimatizing is extraordinary and so it makes those results that they had even more exceptional than even I had appreciated before.
“What I know is that the testing is more limited than ever before but fortunately, I’ve had a good bit of time in the car. I am still acclimatizing. It took me six months, I think, in Mercedes to get my first win. Honestly, I don’t know but I’m doing everything I can to be ready for race one.”
Testing of previous car (TPC) outings have helped Hamilton prepare and are a sign of how committed he is to trying to win with Ferrari. Testing has rarely been one of his favorite pastimes, but he has embraced it this time around because he says his new home requires an even bigger effort than he’s ever asked of himself before.
“It’s given me even more appreciation, as I’ve mentioned, about Sebastian and Fernando joining here,” he said. “I’ve watched over the years, drivers moving around — some moving around a lot more than others — and I know how long it takes to build trust and grow within a team and grow with people, as I’ve experienced that with Mercedes, I’ve experienced that with McLaren. I really cherish the longevity that I had within those places and the bonds that we created in that time. And they don’t happen overnight.
“But this step is huge. It couldn’t be any bigger. The organization is massive. The passion adds to it — from the fans, from the Tifosi, from the people within — to that desire to want to win. And you don’t want to let people down. You want to be able to deliver on your word.
Lewis and the tifosi 🤝 pic.twitter.com/z3tmwqHPAr
— Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) February 19, 2025
“How I decided to come into this year, my resolution, my mentality, is I need to elevate in absolutely every area on my side. It’s not just, ‘This is who I am and I’ve just got to jel in.’ I’ve got to elevate in every single : My fitness, my time management, how I engage with my engineers, how much time I spend in the factory, all these different things. I’ve definitely done that and I’m doing that and I will continue to do that in this strive for perfection and to achieve the success that I’m aiming to achieve.
“But it’s a lot of work, I have to say. The whole new culture, different language, all the new brands that I’m getting to work with — every day is new, I’m experiencing something new, which actually is really exciting.
“And in the short space of time, it’s really not a long time from the day you join the team to the first race. Maybe for you guys, you’re feeling it’s drawn out, but it’s not — it’s very short and there’s no shortcuts that you can take. And we’re not taking it, we’re just putting the work in and we’re grafting.”
The Italian journalist who had told Hamilton he had been perfect so far wanted one word from him to sum up his experience and feelings up to now.
“Emozionante,” was the one the seven-time world champion chose. Once again, it’s hard to say that’s anything but the perfect fit.
“We know we have a huge amount of work to do. I know that I have a huge amount of work to do. I’m still acclimatizing — I’ve only been here a month, or just over a month, so I’m still acclimatizing to a completely new car, a completely new way of working, but everyone’s bent over backwards in this team to make me feel welcome. And I really feel at home.
“I know I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. It feels natural. It feels right.”