Hamilton in no doubt Ferrari switch was the right move

Lewis Hamilton has been left in little question that he has made the proper choice 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 group’s check monitor in Fiorano.

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

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

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

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

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

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

When requested how completely different driving the Ferrari was to his outdated Mercedes automobiles, he added: “Ferrari could be very completely different. From the second you placed on the swimsuit and enter the storage, placed on the helmet and enter the cockpit, you are feeling that unimaginable ardour.

“It is all thrilling and thrilling. It has an unimaginable historical past with this group, 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 automobile round Barcelona throughout a three-day non-public check, where he also crashed.

Nonetheless, in his quick spell on the group he has stated he has seen sufficient to know they’ve “all of the substances to win”.

Hamilton stated: “From seeing the eagerness, every little thing underneath one roof, which I’ve by no means skilled earlier than, this group has completely each ingredient to win.

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Photograph by: Getty Photos

“However we’re additionally conscious we’ve got to proceed to work. We’ve got to enhance and elevate all over the place – not all over the place however in sure areas, and I’ve little question that we will try this.

“I’ve genuinely beloved on daily basis I’ve been right here. It is a spot you genuinely do not actually wish to go away within the day. Every little 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 stated the Brit was becoming a member of the group “on the proper time”.

He added: “Lewis becoming a member of the group has been a giant increase and has been wonderful in so many areas. I really feel just like the group could be very calm and clear in what’s the path to work in and never being affected by every little thing happening within the group.

“We had an excellent automobile nevertheless it wanted extra efficiency, and that’s the place we centered on this automobile. 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 stated: “Charles could be very embedded on this group. He’s very quick and I’m utterly conscious of that.

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