Lewis Hamilton reveals what ‘I still pinch myself’ about at Ferrari after first laps in SF-25

Lewis Hamilton’s first season as a Ferrari Formula 1 driver took another step as the seven-time champion took his first laps in their 2025 car with the SF-25 at Fiorano.

The 40-year-old has made the move to Maranello after 12 largely very successful seasons at Mercedes. Back-to-back winless campaigns in 2022 and 2023 tempted Hamilton to pursue a new challenge and Ferrari jumped at the chance to sign the Briton to replace Carlos Sainz.

Hamilton signed his initial two-year contract for Ferrari in February 2024 to set up a farewell tour with Mercedes last term. Now though he is dressed in red and followed Charles Leclerc putting the SF-25 through its paces at Fiorano on Wednesday as their 2025 car broke cover.

Lewis Hamilton ‘still pinching myself’ about being a Ferrari driver after first SF-25 laps

Hamilton inherited the keys to the Scuderia’s 2025 car in the afternoon session after Leclerc stopped on the track driving Ferrari’s SF-25 at Fiorano this Wednesday morning. It was their first day in the SF-25 after using 2023 and 2024 cars in Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) runs.

Yet, two months into his time as a Ferrari driver, Hamilton admits ‘I still pinch myself’ about the reality of where the Briton now finds himself. Every aspect through his early days at the pride of Italy has excited Hamilton with being a Ferrari driver realising his childhood dream.

READ MORE: Seven best drives of Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes career before Ferrari move

Hamilton told Sky Italia: “It’s all very different from the moment you put on the suit, enter the garage, lower the visor and get into the car. Everything is exciting and thrilling.

“If you think about the history, the past of this team, as a kid it was a dream for me to be able to race for Ferrari. It’s crazy to think that it’s really happening, sometimes I still pinch myself.”

Lewis Hamilton is ‘where I’m supposed to be’ at Ferrari

While Hamilton may still have to pinch himself about realising the Briton’s childhood dream of being a Ferrari Formula 1 driver, the Stevenage-born star is ‘one hundred per cent’ sure it is the right time to join the Scuderia and that Maranello is ‘where I’m supposed to be’ now.

“One hundred per cent,” Hamilton added. “I don’t have the slightest doubt in my head, I’m where I’m supposed to be at the right time. And it’s a privilege. I’m very happy to be in this team to build and further extend the Ferrari legacy.

READ MORE: The best moments of Lewis Hamilton’s career in Formula 1

“Every day is exciting, even last night [at F1 75] was just walking on [a] stage dressed in red. Knowing and experiencing the fans, when you’re here everything is different. That’s what leaves me speechless.”

It remains to be seen how Hamilton’s excitement holds up once the SF-25 shares a track for pre-season testing with rival teams and when teams reveal their real performance levels at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. So far Ferrari only know how their car might fare.

The feeling of being in a new home after the frustrations of his final year in Brackley will also help Hamilton’s excitement at being at Ferrari. Mercedes’ persistent troubles to adapt to the ground effect era saw Hamilton’s lowest-ever finish in the F1 drivers’ championship in 2024.