Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali has shared an optimistic prediction on Lewis Hamilton’s time at Ferrari, suggesting the former Mercedes driver could win a race this year with the Italian team. Speaking after his role in F1 was confirmed through 2029, the F1 chief is looking forward to watching Hamilton’s career at Ferrari unfold.
Since the surprise announcement at the beginning of 2024 of the driver’s move to Ferrari, Hamilton has taken the move to Italy in his stride. He’s worked hard to fully integrate himself into Italian culture, the team’s process, and even the language. This dedication, as he fights for his eighth world championship, has even seen him move a motorhome to Maranello next to the farmhouse-turned-office of Enzo Ferrari.
Domenicali, who previously served as the team principal of the historic team, has revealed his confidence in Hamilton and his abilities.
“For sure for Lewis it’s a new journey, a new journey that will give him a lot of boost, a lot of energy,” Domenicali told Formula 1. “I think that the adjustment that he has to do, not only on the driving side with the car but also in terms of integrating himself in a different community, will be easy.
“When you have inside the right fire to make sure that this experience will be positive, you’re going to dedicate yourself night and day, and that’s what he’s doing. He told me that he’s sleeping in Maranello, he told me he has seen what Ferrari means for the people of Italy.”
He was further asked about the chance of a win for the Briton this year. Domenicali is optimistic about this.
“I think so. I think it will be great, I have to say, with my independent cap! I think it will be good for the team, good for Charles [Leclerc] to keep pushing himself and it will be good for the entire field of F1 teams.”
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photo by: Mark Horsburgh / Motorsport Images
Hamilton’s time at Ferrari began earlier this season, with the driver admitting that it was “one of the best feelings of my life,” after testing on the famous Fiorano test track.
Despite this, his first race of the season didn’t go to plan, with a strategy blunder seeing him finish in 10th, two places behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.
“I felt like I was in the deep end today – just everything is new,” Hamilton told Sky Sports F1. “From the first time I was driving this car in the rain, the car was behaving a lot different to what I’ve experienced in the past, the power unit, all the steering functions – all the things are thrown to you and you’re trying to juggle them.
“Unfortunately at the end they said it was just a short shower and the rest of the track was dry so I was like, ‘I’m gonna stick it out as long as I can. I can keep it on the track.’ They didn’t say more was coming, so then all of a sudden more came, so I think it was just lacking that bit of information at the end.”
Hamilton will be wanting a better weekend next week in Shanghai.
