Hamilton's move to Ferrari has been headline fodder all off-season, with every aspect—his initial visit to Maranello, his maiden shakedown—picked apart by fans and media. Regardless of the increased scrutiny, Hamilton says he is relishing the challenge as excitement, not pressure.
Speaking at the FIA press conference on the eve of the season opener, Hamilton said he is relishing the new opportunity.
“Coming into Ferrari Power, it's something quite new—different vibration, different feel, different way of working. The whole team works completely differently. I was just sitting, just looking at like the race trace from last year, and it's upside down compared to the previous ones.” Hamilton said on Thursday. “I'm like looking at it from what I've, the same for you. You don't understand. I don't understand at all. I'm like, so looking at things that you're looking at things all in from a different perspective, and which makes it exciting and challenging. So definitely, this is the most exciting period of my life. And so I'm really just enjoying it. And I'm so excited to get in the car tomorrow.”
Hamilton rejects Ferrari pressure fears
Hamilton's move to Ferrari brings together the sport's greatest driver and its most iconic team, creating huge expectations. Ferrari came second in the 2024 constructors' championship, 14 points behind McLaren, and thus a good bet for the next season.
Even with the hype, Hamilton dismissed any notion that racing for Ferrari is with added pressure. “Through the years, the pressure that I put on myself has always been 10 times higher than any other pressure that can be put upon me. And I think I've not joined this team and been made to feel any pressure.” He said, “I have an expectation for myself. I have; I know what I can bring. I know I can deliver. I know what it's going to take to do that. And it's just getting your head down and working away. So I come with a very open mind coming into this weekend. I don't have, you know, it is about getting into a season. It's about getting into a good rhythm. I still, as I said a while ago, still learning this new car that's quite a lot different to what I've driven for the last, for all of my previous career in the sense of the Mercedes Power.”
Hamilton's impressive record at Albert Park
Hamilton comes into the Australian Grand Prix on a brilliant track record at Albert Park. From 2014 to 2019, he grabbed the pole position in each race to be held on the circuit, emphasizing his tendency to get the best out of Melbourne's circuit.
Also read: A flashback to the 2009 Australian Grand Prix when Lewis Hamilton was disqualified
With the new Ferrari test beginning, Hamilton will be looking to build upon his success and open his season strongly.