Lewis Hamilton burns the midnight oil, studying Ferrari’s technical terms as he navigates a high-stakes transition to his new team.
As winter testing comes to an end, Lewis Hamilton reflected on the journey since the announcement of his move to Maranello over a year ago.
A first chapter concluded in Bahrain, and even some Tifosi still have to pinch themselves to believe it. But it’s real—Lewis Hamilton is in red!
“These past few days have been really good,” Hamilton began, speaking about the final winter tests.
“You might think it has felt long, but it hasn’t. I’ve only been with the team for a month, so we’ve packed an enormous amount into a very short time. But we’ve come a long way together, and the car performed well on track.”
Does Lewis Hamilton feel the excitement of driving in red?
“Absolutely. I felt it from the start of last year, and even more so this year from day one. It’s incredible to see the enthusiasm not just within the team and the warm welcome I’ve received, but also the positivity coming from the outside—from people in the sport and beyond. Everyone is excited. It’s a great way to start the year. So many positive things have happened, and so many more are coming. It just feels right.”
“If you think about my brand [what I represent, editor’s note] and Ferrari’s, you know it’s bound to have an impact. But of course, I didn’t realize just how much people would talk about it, and I’ve been overwhelmed by the positivity surrounding it.
Once again, everything we’ve done—from photoshoots to marketing campaigns—the team here is doing an incredible job, producing amazing videos. It all looks fantastic. I don’t know if you’ve seen the latest photos we released, but I actually took on the creative direction myself, which really excites me. It’s a great surprise.”
A Colossal Adaptation Ahead
Adapting to a Ferrari-powered car represents a massive shift for a driver who has only ever known Mercedes F1 engines. So when does Lewis Hamilton expect to have fully mastered his new machine?
“I don’t have a crystal ball, so all I can say is that we’re taking things day by day. We’re really focusing on our work, without paying too much attention to what’s happening elsewhere. We’re simply making sure we fully absorb our processes and understand the car properly.”
“With every lap and every session, I learn more about the car, becoming increasingly comfortable with all the completely different control systems we have. I’m still in the learning phase when it comes to the rear suspension, the front suspension, all the settings they have for them, as well as the terminology they use.”
“My engineer and I are also learning to work together in terms of communication. After each session, every time I go out on track, we come back and make adjustments to how I relay information to him and vice versa. But everything is on the right track. We couldn’t be further along than we are, given the limited time we’ve had.”
“I’ve also studied the previous great drivers who arrived here, like Sebastian [Vettel] and Fernando [Alonso], who started much earlier than I did—some as early as November, for example. We’ve achieved a huge amount in a very short time, and everything has been well received on both sides.”
Even the lexicon and vocabulary are changing for Lewis Hamilton. The Briton now has to study his new terminology after nightfall!
“It’s Different”
“The effect is slightly different, the terms they use are different. But a ‘roll bar’ is still a ‘roll bar.’ However, for other aspects of the car’s geometry, there are different names.”
“I’ve noted all of this down on my computer, and I study every day and night to fully understand what they’re referring to during debriefings. After 12 years elsewhere, talking about the same things in the same way, I was used to it. I knew exactly what they meant.”
“But now, every time they mention a component in a debrief, I have to ask myself, ‘Which part is that? Oh, that one.’ It’s a learning phase, and that’s what makes it exciting. Everything is new, and I love that novelty.”
At least ‘Hammertime’ shouldn’t need a name change… or should it?
“I haven’t talked to my engineer about it yet. I’m not sure how it would sound with an Italian accent. Maybe we’ll have to find an Italian word instead. We’ll probably come up with something new.”
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From Silver to Red: Hamilton’s Race to Adapt at Ferrari From Silver to Red: Hamilton’s Race to Adapt at Ferrari From Silver to Red: Hamilton’s Race to Adapt at Ferrari
