After a cautious start with Ferrari, Hamilton responds to Wolff’s remarks on age and silences critics questioning his move to Maranello.
How is Lewis Hamilton’s start with Ferrari going in Bahrain for winter testing?
So far, everything is going very well—that was essentially the message delivered by the Briton in a press conference this afternoon in Bahrain.
Hamilton completed around 40 laps on Thursday under variable weather conditions, including some rain. While lap times mean little at this stage, Ferrari fans would have breathed a sigh of relief seeing their new driver at the top of the timesheets this morning.
“The way you start is often very important,” noted Lewis Hamilton, putting his morning in Bahrain into the broader context of his arrival at Maranello.
“This past month couldn’t have gone any better. Certain steps were necessary—Barcelona had to happen. Every day has been significant in laying a solid foundation. Even though we had to compress a lot into a short period, we never rushed anything.”
“The days are long, but that’s why we’re here. I believe it will pay off in the future. It’s an ongoing process, and everything has felt natural, without forcing anything. I felt at home from the start.”
Hamilton on Leclerc: “He will be very fast this year”
A new team also means a new teammate, and this year, Hamilton faces a strong challenge in Charles Leclerc.
But again, everything is going well so far. The relationship between the two is excellent, assures the seven-time world champion—though he subtly adds some pressure by acknowledging Leclerc’s talent.
“Charles is incredibly talented. Watching him work on the other side of the garage and seeing how he operates within the team has been very interesting. He’s been here a long time, knows the team inside out, speaks Italian, and is completely at ease.”
“But since we already had a friendly relationship before, that made things easier. He is incredibly fast, and he will be again this year.”
Hamilton on adapting to the SF-25: “We’re building a connection”
Asked about his adaptation to the SF-25, Lewis Hamilton remains cautious—will it be harder for him to adjust than it was to last year’s ‘diva’ Mercedes F1 car?
“I think it’s still a bit early to say, but I really like this car. We are gradually building a connection.”
“Yesterday was an average day, just okay,” Hamilton tempers.
Does that concern him at all?
“But we completed our program, we tested several things. For now, I’m not making setup changes, I’m not yet dictating the direction we want to take with the car. Today, however, I started exploring my interaction with my engineer a bit more.”
“For now, I love driving this car.”
Moving from Mercedes to Ferrari: “A whole different world”
Switching from a Mercedes F1 car to Ferrari is a complete change of environment, confirms Hamilton, who had only ever driven Mercedes-powered F1 cars since 2008.
“These days are all about exploring. For now, there is still room for improvement, and step by step, I am discovering more about the car.”
“All the settings are completely different, even the brake balance isn’t the same. I’m not forgetting what I knew, but I’m learning a new way of working. The way this car needs to be driven is different, and it’s an exciting process.”
“I can feel the car beneath me, and it responds well to my feedback. There is still work to do, but lap times aren’t really relevant at this stage—the key is to focus on our program.”
“Tomorrow, we’ll have a better idea of the baseline we’re working with, but I think the gaps will be tight. Everyone has done a great job this winter—even Williams looks promising.”
Hamilton takes a swipe at Toto Wolff
In his press conference, Lewis Hamilton didn’t miss the chance to send a subtle dig at his former employer, Toto Wolff, who had made remarks about his age (now over 40).
Wolff had recently stated that Hamilton’s decision to join Ferrari “helps us, as it avoids the moment where we would have had to tell the most iconic driver in F1 that it was time to stop… We are in a sport where cognitive sharpness is essential, and I believe everyone has a limited lifespan.”
He later clarified his comments, insisting that Hamilton remained “sharp” despite his age and was preparing “perfectly” for his 19th F1 season at 40.
But that did little to appease Hamilton, who fired back.
“Never compare me to anyone else. I am the first and only Black driver in the history of this sport—I am built differently. I’ve been through so much, I’ve followed my own path, and you cannot compare me to another 40-year-old driver, past or present, in F1. Because none of them are like me.”
“I am hungry, determined, I have no wife, no kids. I am focused on one thing: winning. That is my absolute priority.”
Hamilton on his critics: “I never respond to old white men”
As for other critics of his move to Ferrari, including Eddie Jordan and Flavio Briatore, Hamilton didn’t hold back.
“I have always embraced negativity. I never respond to the old, ultimately, white men who comment on my career and what they think I should do.”
“The way you show up, how you conduct yourself, and how you perform always ends up silencing doubts.”
Before the press conference ended, Hamilton was asked about his goal and hunger for success. His response was clear.
“Right now, it’s my only focus. Of course, I have other things like Mission 44, I have a team, and I see the work we are doing. I have space in my life for these different aspects, but 99% or 98%, whatever you want to call it, is all about this.”
“This is what I love, this is what I dreamed of growing up. I don’t know why I have this hunger, this fight, or this desire to keep doing what I do at the level I do, but I’m grateful for it. I’m truly grateful for this sport—it has changed my life.”
“I know I will achieve much more in this new chapter of my life, and that really excites me. Right now, it’s about being present, keeping an open mind, trying to learn from all the engineers here who are experts, and figuring out how I can make mine work to achieve the goal we all share.”
- Discover More>Leclerc Battles Unusual Conditions as Hamilton Gains SF-25 Insight
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