Lewis Hamilton relishes his first steps with Ferrari: "The most exciting time of my life"

409 long days will have passed this Sunday morning, between the announcement of the transfer of Lewis Hamilton de Mercedes à Ferrari, February 1, 2024, and the lights go out marking the start of the Australian Grand Prix, the first race for the seven-time world champion in red. For more than a year, the Briton has been at the center of conversations, from which he had been somewhat eclipsed over the last three years in favor of a new champion, Max Verstappen.

This time around, Lewis Hamilton didn't need to win races or championships to make headlines, but his move to Ferrari is perhaps as sensational as a world title. Because it represents the marriage of the two greatest achievements in the Formula 1 : the most successful team (16 Constructors' titles) and the only driver to have surpassed the 100 wins and 100 pole positions mark. This union, analyzed at length, in breadth and across, has taken shape since January 1st and the official start of Lewis Hamilton's contract. Three months later, it is finally time to see him on track during a Grand Prix weekend, after a first test at Fiorano scrutinized by the whole world and special attention also paid during the pre-season tests in Bahrain.

“All these years, I've been walking around the paddock looking at the red garage, and now I'm inside. It's a really great feeling. " says the forty-year-old in Melbourne, giving the impression of not yet fully realising what is happening to him. “I just can't wait to get started. I've been waiting for this moment for a long time, thinking about what my first turn with this team will be like, another one of those 'firsts' that I'll experience throughout the year… It's really special. I feel very honored and very grateful to have this opportunity.”

Ferrari: a huge sporting challenge for Hamilton

While this move is already the most significant and symbolic in the history of the category, it in no way heralds a sporting success. Especially since recent seasons have revealed a worn-out Lewis Hamilton, less motivated and struggling since the return of ground-effect F1 cars, which he handles with less brilliance than their predecessors.

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In addition, the seven-time world champion arrives in a structure where expectations are very high and where several world champions have failed. Alain Prost, or Sebastian Vettel et Fernando Alonso more recently: despite their respective achievements, none have been able to win a title with Ferrari. "I think that over the years, the pressure I put on myself has always been ten times greater than any external pressure anyone could have put on me." sweeps Lewis Hamilton. "And I didn't join this team feeling under pressure. I have expectations of myself. I know what I can bring, I know I can deliver good performances, I know what it takes to achieve that, and it's just about putting my head down and working."


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Hamilton must adapt to a car that is 'completely different' from the Mercedes

The Stevenage native, however, does not want to say too much about the level of his Ferrari, announcing that the objective for Melbourne is to finish “somewhere in the top 5.” Will he be able to challenge for the title? No one has the answer yet, especially since arriving at Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton must adapt to a new car, he who knew Mercedes like the back of his hand, having driven it since 2013. car Italian already offers him a first challenge: he must succeed in taming the Prancing Horse. "I'm still learning this new car, which is very different from what I've driven throughout my career. I've always known the Mercedes engine, and switching to the Ferrari engine is something completely new." assures number 44. “The vibration is different, the feeling is different. The way of working is completely different.”

Despite the necessary time to adapt to his new car, Lewis Hamilton is already living a waking dream and seems to have found his mojo again, which he lost during the last few months at Mercedes. “This is definitely the most exciting time of my life, and I'm really enjoying it. I can't wait to get in the car tomorrow.” he announces with a broad smile. How can you not look forward to this moment?