Lewis Hamilton completed his first laps in the Ferrari SF-25, expressing confidence and enthusiasm about his adaptation to the new machine.
Hamilton shared his first impressions of the new Ferrari SF-25 after today’s shakedown at Fiorano.
He admitted it was “hard to believe” that he had just driven his first Ferrari, the car he will race in less than a month.
Like Charles Leclerc, Hamilton was given around 100 kilometers to familiarize himself with the Ferrari he will drive in Grands Prix in 2025. Until now, he had only driven a 2023 single-seater and last year’s model, modified for Pirelli testing.
“How’s the car? Good. Very pleased for a first day. It’s still early, so I can’t say too much, but we had no issues today. It seems like an F1 I would get along well with.”
“It’s my first Ferrari for racing, and it’s hard to believe. I’m taking in every moment.”
However, the process of getting used to the Ferrari did present a challenge for Hamilton, who was involved in an accident at the Barcelona circuit—an incident he lightly referenced in his first public comments.
“I enjoyed the tests we did. I had to find the car’s limits as quickly as possible because I only have a few days ahead of me—and that’s what I did! It was fun. Every week has been so different.”
“There’s still a long way to go and plenty of challenges ahead, for sure, but I think we’ve covered everything we could in the limited time we’ve had so far.”
“I don’t know many Italian words, but molto bene. It was emotional.”
Then, expanding on his feelings, Hamilton said he already felt “at home.”
“I’ve really enjoyed every day I’ve spent here. It’s a place you really don’t want to leave during the day. Everything is here. Even my motorhome is here, so I never leave.”
“I’ve only been here a month, so I’m still getting used to a completely new car, a whole new way of working, but everyone in this team is going above and beyond to make me feel welcome.”
“I truly feel at home. I know I’m exactly where I’m meant to be. It feels natural, it feels right.”
“Seeing the passion, everything under one roof, which I’ve never experienced before, this team has absolutely all the ingredients to win. But we also know we have to keep working. We need to improve and elevate ourselves—not everywhere, but in certain areas, and I have no doubt we can do it.”
The first race of the season is the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne from March 14 to 16. Will he be ready?
“We’re putting everything in place so that when we get to the first race, I will be.”
“So we’ve put a lot of work into this, and we’ve also tried to speed up the process of getting to know each other and understanding how they like to work and how I like to work.”
“You can’t really take shortcuts—you build trust and relationships over time, as you know. But every day has been exciting, I literally wake up excited every day. What’s key is that we never want to rush things.”
“Then, we’ll have to fight. We don’t know where the others stand. We know that all the other teams will also do a great job, so we’re focusing on moving forward step by step.”
“As I said, I’m still getting used to the Ferrari. It’s very different from what I’ve driven in recent years with this generation of cars, but also in terms of controls and everything else.”
“Over the last 10 years, I’ve gotten used to a certain way of working, and I’m still adapting to new things.”
Hamilton repeatedly emphasized the scale of the challenge he faces in terms of adaptation.
“You have to realize… It’s completely different. At first, I thought it was just another F1 car. When I moved from McLaren to Mercedes, there were similarities, but I suppose that was because it was still powered by Mercedes—the sound, the vibrations were all the same or similar. The car’s characteristics were slightly different. But here, it’s a step where everything is completely different.”
“It’s a really exciting experience. It’s something I’ve really enjoyed trying to understand, especially when it comes to the setups and the terminology they use, the different ways they can adjust a car. It takes some time to get used to, for sure.”
He also said that the early highlights achieved by Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso during their own time at Ferrari had “become even more exceptional than I had previously appreciated, given the acclimatization required.”
“It took me six months, I think, at Mercedes to get my first victory. Honestly, I don’t know how long this process will take, but I’m doing everything I can to be ready for the first race.”
Hamilton was also asked about his experience as a teammate to Leclerc, the Monegasque driver preparing for his seventh season with the team.
“It’s great to work with Leclerc, but we already had things in common. I’m starting to learn how he works, and I’m doing my best to find the best feeling with the team.”
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Hamilton’s First Ferrari Run: “An F1 I Can Work With” Hamilton’s First Ferrari Run: “An F1 I Can Work With” Hamilton’s First Ferrari Run: “An F1 I Can Work With”
