Lewis Hamilton faces intense pressure at Ferrari, warns Rubens Barrichello, who knows the mental demands of racing for the iconic team.
Rubens Barrichello, former Ferrari F1 driver, believes Lewis Hamilton is already “feeling the pressure” as he continues settling into the Italian team.
The British driver has faced challenges during his initial months with Ferrari, while the team has struggled to consistently stay at the front as it did at the end of the 2024 season.
Ferrari holds a near-religious status in Italy, and Barrichello, who spent six seasons driving for them, is well-acquainted with the pressure that comes with it.
“From my experience at Ferrari, I can say that mentally, it’s the toughest team to drive for.”
“Because you have fans who support you, but it feels like you’re constantly under pressure.”
“Lewis Hamilton is already under that pressure, because he’s someone everyone follows anyway—everyone knows who Sir Lewis is.”
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“It’s a lot of pressure. It’s not easy in Italy, and you need a strong mindset, that’s for sure.”
Barrichello said he still enjoys a positive relationship with Ferrari, despite having left the team 20 years ago.
“Today, I still go to Fiorano to eat at the Montana restaurant, where I spent six years of my life. It’s just incredible—people act like I raced yesterday, so imagine what it’s like for today’s Ferrari drivers.”
“The pressure of racing for Ferrari comes from the outside, but internally, if you spend time at the Fiorano factory working with the engineers and analysts, you’ll see the facilities are amazing.”
“There’s a lot to do, and it’s both fun and incredible.”
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