Lewis Hamilton has shared what excites him about moving to F1 giants Ferrari for the 2025 season. The seven-time world champion confirmed in the winter that he was headed for the Prancing Horse.
It’s perhaps the biggest driver transfer in F1 history, with the sport’s most successful driver joining its most iconic team. Hamilton will go up against five-time race winner Charles Leclerc, a driver who’s already beaten the legendary Sebastian Vettel.
Speaking to Vanity Fair, the 39-year-old looked ahead to his move to the Italian marquee. He’s signed a multi-year deal with the team having opted out of the second year of his Mercedes contract.
The marriage between Hamilton and the Silver Arrows has been historic. It’s delivered more titles – six – than any other partnership.
However, things have been much more difficult for the Englishman since the infamous 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. FIA race director Michael Masi made an error that denied Hamilton the title in his battle with Max Verstappen.
Between 2007 and 2021, Hamilton won at least one race every single year. But he hasn’t tasted victory in the last two seasons as Mercedes have regressed, and he currently looks unlikely to end that drought this term.
Lewis Hamilton names two things he’ll have to learn at Ferrari
Hamilton is relishing the idea of a ‘new chapter’ after spending the last 11 years with the Mercedes team. He says he’ll make an effort to learn Italian as he tries to immerse himself in an unfamiliar culture.
#LewisHamilton is ready for Ferrari2025. The F1 star shares what he’s looking forward to most about joining the team at the GQCreativityAwards. #ferrari #f1 #mclaren #mercedes
He said: “It’s just a new chapter in my life, so I’m looking forward to getting into Italy, tapping into the culture there. I’ve got to learn the language and a new way of working – the Italian way of working.”
Vettel, who spent six seasons with Ferrari before they ultimately dropped him in favour of Sainz, has warned Hamilton it will be ‘difficult’ to adapt. But the Briton nailed his decision to leave McLaren for Mercedes in 2013 and will hope to pull off a similar masterstroke here.
Will Lewis Hamilton win an eighth world title at Ferrari?
Hamilton’s ultimate goal when he lands in Maranello is, of course, to win an eighth world championship. It’s something that’s never been done in the history of the sport.
While we can’t say for sure how Ferrari will fare upon the introduction of the new regulations in 2026, their trajectory this year looks promising for 2025. They’ve already won a race, albeit with the aid of Verstappen’s retirement in Australia, and are planning a ‘massive’ upgrade for Imola.
While Hamilton may go out with a whimper at Mercedes if things don’t improve, Karun Chandhok says he will have enjoyed seeing Ferrari’s progress nonetheless. David Coulthard has suggested he may already have ‘mentally’ checked out.
Russell has hit back at that suggestion, insisting that Hamilton remains as committed as ever. Still, Ferrari will hope to see him revitalised next year after an underwhelming start to 2024.
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