Lewis Hamilton has expressed that his move from Mercedes to Ferrari has been far more intense than he had anticipated, revealing the deep passion and impressive professionalism within the Ferrari team. Since confirming his transition to Ferrari starting in the 2025 season, Hamilton has found the environment at Maranello to exceed all his expectations in terms of energy and commitment.
Hamilton, who broke numerous Formula 1 records during his time with Mercedes—including matching Michael Schumacher’s record of seven World Championships—shared that he still feels awe-struck at being part of Ferrari.
From Mercedes Dominance to New Challenges at Ferrari
Hamilton’s storied career began with a World Championship in 2008 driving for the Mercedes-powered McLaren team, followed by six titles directly with Mercedes. Before the 2024 season, he exercised a release clause to end his long-standing partnership with Mercedes and pursue a fresh start at Ferrari. This switch marks a significant turning point as he navigates a new chapter in one of F1’s most iconic teams.
Responding to questions from the French media outlet RTBF about whether Ferrari met his expectations, Hamilton said,
“It’s not at all what I expected,”
describing the team’s intensity and pride as unprecedented.
He added,
“It’s more intense in so many areas. I didn’t expect it. I didn’t think the team at the factory would be so impressive. I was expecting energy, but now… It’s even more intense than I imagined.”
Hamilton’s admiration was clear as he reflected on wearing Ferrari’s emblem, stating,
Image of: Lewis Hamilton
“There is a huge sense of pride within this team. During a shoot last week, I had a big smile on my face the whole time. I love being in red! I look at the patch and I’m like, ‘Wow!’ It’s Ferrari, I can’t believe it. I still have to pinch myself, I say to myself ‘I’m driving for Ferrari’. It’s phenomenal.”
A Demanding Start and Growing Adaptation at Ferrari
Hamilton’s initial months with Ferrari have come with challenges, including adjusting to a different dynamic as teammate Charles Leclerc has already achieved five podium finishes. Hamilton is yet to reach the podium in his debut season with the Scuderia, highlighting the steep learning curve he faces.
At the Belgian Grand Prix, Hamilton revealed that he is adapting to a mid-season change in his performance engineer. The new engineer is someone from his former Mercedes team, helping to ease this transition despite the difficulties posed by switching such a critical partnership during the campaign.
Hamilton described this period, saying,
“It’s not easy to switch engineers within the middle of the season, but it’s someone that I’ve known for years who was actually on my previous team with me but not in that position,”
and continued,
“So we’re getting used to each other and learning. Having to learn like, super, super quick and I think the changes that we had really caught both of us out, but I think we did a great job overnight, and we’ll just get stronger and stronger together.”
This renewed collaboration helped Hamilton recover from a difficult qualifying session at Spa, where he started from the pit lane after qualifying sixteenth but managed to climb to a seventh-place finish despite the setbacks.
Hamilton Embraces Ferrari’s Global Passion and the Road Ahead
Lewis Hamilton has expressed genuine admiration for Ferrari’s widespread cultural significance and the passionate fan base that supports the team worldwide. He emphasized that the team’s emblem, the “Prancing Horse,” holds a special place in people’s hearts everywhere.
He shared,
“What touches me is to see how far Ferrari’s passion goes. In every country, the Prancing Horse has a place in people’s hearts. It’s truly unique.”
Hamilton’s experience at Ferrari is not only reshaping his professional journey but also deepening his personal connection to a team synonymous with Formula 1 history. As he continues to adapt to the team’s unique culture and technical demands, his determination signals a promising future in red.
