What Hamilton found so “invigorating” from fresh start at Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton has defined why he’s so ‘invigorated’ by his transfer to Ferrari as he made his first UK look for the squad at Method 1’s season launch occasion.

When Hamilton was placed on the spot to sum up his high-profile transfer to the Scuderia in a single phrase, the seven-time world champion used “invigorating”, feeding off the vitality from the 15,000 followers inside the sector that gave him the largest reception of the night time.

“The phrase that I am considering of is invigorating as a result of I really feel so vigorous and all the pieces is new,” he mentioned. “I am so proud to be a part of the staff, one thing proud and thrilling for me.”

As Ferrari launches its precise 2025 F1 automobile in Maranello on Wednesday, the day after unveiling the SF-25’s new livery, Hamilton additional opened up on his ‘revitalising’ expertise to date.

On the age of 40, the Briton thought he had seen it throughout twenty years in F1. However having first jumped right into a Ferrari F1 automobile for a filming day in January at Fiorano has additional drilled house the concept that he wanted a brand new problem after a 12-year stint with Mercedes.

“I am actually acutely aware of the truth that there are solely a handful of particular first occasions in life, the primary kiss, the primary date, the primary time of college, the primary time within the job. I truthfully thought that I might had all my firsts and nothing was ever going to be new once more,” he defined in a video launched by Ferrari.

“And on condition that I’ve raced for thus lengthy, even I am shocked at simply how a lot I nonetheless love what I do, and it felt so new.

“I bear in mind placing my go well with on, entering into the cockpit, and simply the joy that I had was very paying homage to possibly the primary time that I acquired to step in a Method 1 automobile after I was like 21-years-old, 20 years in the past. However this time was completely different, as a result of I’ve at all times imagined what it will be like sitting within the cockpit surrounded by pink.”

He labelled the 2023 Ferrari SF-23 he drove that day as no different automobile he has ever pushed in F1, even right down to the vibrations of Ferrari’s engine. He has since additionally sampled the 2024 automobiles at testing for Pirelli in Barcelona.

“It is nothing just like the automobile that I had earlier than over the past 10, 12, 17 years,” he mentioned. “It is distinctive in its personal, and to really feel the vibration of a Ferrari engine for the primary time, wow. That is what I believe finally put the largest smile on my face.

“I might at all times seen all of the drivers which have come earlier than me in pink, and questioned how that may look on me. And it is an actual honour to have the ability to put on this badge and to put on this go well with. So I hope I swag it out and make it look good.

“I might been ready such a very long time for it, so firing the automobile up, it is like such a brand new, uncharted journey, and it is essentially the most thrilling factor that is occurred to me in so long as I can bear in mind.

“I knew that I might see the tifosi on the bridge and to lastly get to Flip 1 and see them down there, that was superb to see. And assembly the staff, I used to be blown away simply by the reception and the fervour of the individuals.”