Nidhish Waghmare
Lewis Hamilton says joining Ferrari has created an impact far stronger than he imagined when leaving Mercedes. The seven-time Formula 1 world champion reflected on his new journey, describing the partnership with the Italian team as both inspiring and demanding.
“I knew that aligning our brands would be big,” he told Ferrari Magazine. “But it still hits you and you’re like, ‘This is even more powerful than I imagined.’ It’s beautiful and there have been plenty of positives, although a lot of responsibility and weight comes with it. Everyone expects to win straight away but ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day.’
“How long did it take? We’ll have to look that up.”
After 12 seasons with Mercedes, where he captured six of his seven championships, Hamilton’s shift to Ferrari in 2025 was one of the most talked-about moves in Formula 1. The Brit admitted that the transition required patience as both he and the team adapt to each other’s working styles.
Adjusting to Life at Ferrari
When asked about the challenges of settling into his new surroundings, Hamilton explained that few truly understand how complex Formula 1 teams are.
“And that’s not many people. Only when you’re inside a team can you really, truly understand how it works and how F1 works. You can’t imagine how the machine really operates otherwise.
“I’ve been in F1 for so long, but when I came to this team it really was different again. So I don’t blame people for not knowing. All I can do is continue to focus on the things that I can control. How I prepare, and work with the team. How I show up each day and stay positive.”
The 40-year-old champion emphasized that every Formula 1 team functions differently, and it takes time to synchronize with new engineers, strategies, and systems. His focus now lies in building momentum and bringing Ferrari closer to consistent victories.
Hamilton’s 2025 Season Progress
Since joining Ferrari, Hamilton has shown flashes of strong performance while learning the car’s dynamics. He currently sits sixth in the drivers’ standings with 146 points, while teammate Charles Leclerc holds fifth place on 210 points.
Hamilton earned his first sprint race win for Ferrari in China and achieved fourth-place finishes in the Emilia Romagna, Austrian, British, and United States Grands Prix.
In the constructors’ standings, Ferrari sits second with 356 points, just one point ahead of Mercedes, creating one of the most intense rivalries of the 2025 season.
Hamilton’s reflections reveal a driver still motivated by challenge. His partnership with Ferrari represents a new chapter — one that could redefine his legacy. As he said, “Rome wasn’t built in a day,” but the foundation for something remarkable is clearly taking shape in Maranello.
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