Lewis Hamilton has described signing for Ferrari for 2025 as a “huge challenge” and that he felt it was time to “start a new chapter” in his record-breaking F1 profession.
Hamilton spoke publicly at size on the move that shocked F1 initially of this month in his first F1 press convention look of the 12 months on the ultimate day of testing in Bahrain.
Asked what had modified between signing a brand new Mercedes contract final August, which was introduced as a two-year deal to the tip of 2025 however was since confirmed to comprise a break clause on the finish of 2024 which Hamilton activated, and signing for his or her Italian rivals, Hamilton stated: “Obviously in summer we signed and at that time I saw my future with Mercedes.
“But a chance got here up within the New Year and I made a decision to take it.
“It was clearly the toughest choice I feel I’ve ever needed to make. I’ve been with Mercedes for I feel it is like 26 years they’ve supported me and we have had a completely unbelievable journey collectively. We’ve have created historical past inside the sport and it is one thing I take a whole lot of pleasure in and am very happy with what we have achieved.
“But I think ultimately I’m writing my story and I felt like it was time to start a new chapter.”
In a social media submit after the seismic announcement, Hamilton stated that signing for F1’s most long-standing and well-known group represented the realisation of “childhood dream” for him.
He elaborated on that description and his lengthy fondness for Ferrari within the press convention, referencing each the group’s period of record-setting success with Michael Schumacher – the Scuderia’s most-successful ever driver who received 5 titles in a row for them in 2000-2004 and set a number of milestones that Hamilton has since damaged or equalled – and the truth that their final world title was achieved 17 years in the past.
“I think for every driver growing up watching history, watching Michael Schumacher in his prime, I think probably all of us sit in our garage and see the screen pop up and you see the driver in the red cockpit and you wonder what it would like to be surrounded by the red,” he stated.
“You go to the Italian Grand Prix and you see the sea of red of the Ferrari fans and you can only stand in awe of that. It’s a team that’s not had like huge success mostly obviously from Michael’s days but since 2007 [when Kimi Raikkonen won their last title] and I saw it as a huge challenge.
“Without a doubt, whilst a child I used to play on GP2 [the computer game] as Michael in that automotive so it undoubtedly is a dream and I’m actually, actually enthusiastic about it.”
Sky F1’s Anthony Davidson analyses Lewis Hamilton’s quickest lap within the Mercedes in the course of the second day of testing
While a lot of the questions he confronted from the assembled media had been associated to 2025, Hamilton minimize away from one in all his solutions to underline his continued dedication to Mercedes for this remaining 12 months with them and making an attempt to make sure their record-breaking partnership ended on a profitable notice.
“Just go back, about this new chapter, this chapter [at Mercedes] is still not finished,” he insisted.
“I’m nonetheless 100 per cent targeted on delivering for this group this 12 months and making an attempt to complete on a excessive. That’s huge, huge aim for me and of the group.
During the model new season six of Netflix’s Drive to Survive, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and Lewis Hamilton maintain discussions over the Brit’s future with the group
“And I have absolute faith in everything and everyone in the team, and what we’ve done so far, I think is great. So I really hope that we are somehow able to close the gap to the Red Bulls somehow.”
Hamilton on significance of Vasseur in swap and whether or not he’ll be taught Italian
The Briton additionally paid explicit credit score to Ferrari group principal Frederic Vasseur forward of a reunion along with his outdated title-winning group boss from the junior collection, saying that the shock move “really wouldn’t have happened without him”
“I’ve got a great relationship with Fred,” stated Hamilton.
“Obviously, I raced for him in Formula 3 and we had amazing success in Formula 3 and also in GP2, and that’s really where the foundation of our relationship started.
“And we simply at all times remained in contact. I assumed that he was going to be an incredible group supervisor at some stage and progress to Formula 1, however on the time he wasn’t concerned with that. And it was actually cool to see him step into the Alfa (Sauber) group. And then when he received the job at Ferrari, I used to be simply so joyful for him.
“And I think just the stars aligned. I think it really wouldn’t have happened without him. So I’m really grateful and really excited about the work that that he’s doing there.”
Naomi Schiff breaks down whether or not seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton will usurp Charles Leclerc as Ferrari’s primary driver when he joins the group in 2025
Asked if he would be taught Italian forward of his move to the nation’s efficient nationwide group, Hamilton smiled and stated: “All these years I’ve not managed to learn any other languages, but of course I will definitely try.
“I do keep in mind after I was karting in Italy and I used to be in a position to choose up a number of strains, so hopefully that may come again to me fairly shortly.”
Hamilton: Ferrari have a ‘little work to do’ on enhancing range
Lewis Hamilton says he’ll proceed his journey in making Formula 1 a extra various place following his future move to Ferrari
An more and more essential side of Hamilton’s latest years at Mercedes has been their mixed dedication to enhancing range and inclusion on the group and inside F1 as a complete, with their work together with the institution of a joint charitable partnership referred to as Ignite.
Hamilton stated he had made persevering with such work to widen the alternatives for all in motorsport was a “priority” in his discussions with Ferrari chairman John Elkann, one thing he says which had been embraced, including that the Maranello group “had a little work to do” on that entrance.
“Well, firstly, I’m immensely proud of the work that we’ve done within Mercedes since 2020,” stated Hamilton.
“We’ve made some real great strides in improving the diversity within the team, and for example, within HR we’ve got a diverse HR group and that will continue beyond me, which is something that I’m really proud of.
“And as I stated, I’m happy with the group for pushing so arduous forward. I feel we’re forward of each different group in that in that respect, and there nonetheless is a big quantity of labor inside the entire sport, of which I’m talking to Stefano (Domenicali, F1’s president) continually and trying to work extra with Formula 1.
“And of course, you look at Ferrari, they have a little work to do.
“So I’ve already made {that a} precedence in talking with John (Elkann) and they’re tremendous excited to get on and work on it additionally.”
When is the first F1 race of 2024?
Just one week after testing, the opening race of the 2024 season will begin with the Bahrain Grand Prix from February 29 to March 2.
Due to the Muslim holy period of Ramadan, the Bahrain and, seven days later, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, will be held on a Saturday.
This means practice one and two will take place on Thursdays, with final practice and qualifying on Fridays.
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