Hamilton in no doubt Ferrari switch was the right move

Lewis Hamilton has been left in little doubt that he has made the suitable resolution to affix Ferrari.

The seven-time world champion was talking after his first drive in Ferrari’s challenger for 2025 at a shakedown run on the workforce’s check observe in Fiorano.

Hamilton, who lit up the F1 75 livery launch in London’s O2 Area on Tuesday night, revealed he has tried to combine himself into the Italian workforce by residing in his motorhome, which is parked on the workforce’s Maranello manufacturing facility.

When requested if he thought he had made the suitable transfer having pushed this season’s Ferrari, he mentioned: “100%. I haven’t got the slightest doubt or query in my head. I am in the suitable place on the proper time and it is an amazing privilege to be right here, to affix this workforce and to work with everybody to attempt to construct and proceed the nice historic custom of this workforce.

“Day-after-day has been thrilling. Even final night time, strolling on that stage [at the F1 75 livery event] wearing purple was one thing completely new for me.

“To have the ability to meet and expertise the followers is one thing very totally different doing it as an opponent or doing it as a Ferrari driver.

“To start a journey along with them and the workforce is one thing that left me speechless.”

Hamilton’s wave of positivity comes after a winter of readjusting to life with the Italian workforce. The 40-year-old has been rejuvenated by the transfer and is now adjusting to the brand new problem.

When requested how totally different driving the Ferrari was to his outdated Mercedes vehicles, he added: “Ferrari may be very totally different. From the second you placed on the swimsuit and enter the storage, placed on the helmet and enter the cockpit, you’re feeling that unimaginable ardour.

“It is all thrilling and thrilling. It has an unimaginable historical past with this workforce, and as a child it was a dream for me to have the ability to race for Ferrari, and I nonetheless pinch myself to have the ability to imagine that it is actually taking place. I’ve so many expectations.”

Hamilton had beforehand pushed a 2022 Ferrari at Fiorano in January earlier than taking a 2023 F1 automotive round Barcelona throughout a three-day personal check, where he also crashed.

Nonetheless, in his brief spell on the workforce he has mentioned he has seen sufficient to know they’ve “all of the elements to win”.

Hamilton mentioned: “From seeing the fervour, every thing beneath one roof, which I’ve by no means skilled earlier than, this workforce has completely each ingredient to win.

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Photograph by: Getty Photographs

“However we’re additionally conscious now we have to proceed to work. We have now to enhance and elevate in every single place – not in every single place however in sure areas, and I’ve little doubt that we will do this.

“I’ve genuinely beloved every single day I’ve been right here. It is a spot you genuinely do not actually wish to go away within the day. Every thing’s right here. Even my motorhome is right here so I do not ever go away!”

Hamilton was joined by his team-mate Charles Leclerc, who mentioned the Brit was becoming a member of the workforce “on the proper time”.

He added: “Lewis becoming a member of the workforce has been a giant enhance and has been superb in so many areas. I really feel just like the workforce may be very calm and clear in what’s the course to work in and never being affected by every thing happening within the workforce.

“We had a very good automotive but it surely wanted extra efficiency, and that’s the place we centered on this automotive. We centered on small issues in each space.”

Hamilton was additionally requested about his new team-mate, who joined the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2016. He mentioned: “Charles may be very embedded on this workforce. He’s very quick and I’m fully conscious of that.

“It isn’t going to be straightforward to beat him, however we’ll work collectively and have some nice races, I hope.”