Lewis Hamilton has acknowledged the immense pressure of a Ferrari driver ahead of his first race weekend but insists that the pressure he puts on himself far outweighs any from the team.
The seven-time Formula 1 champion made the shocking announcement that he would be leaving Mercedes after 12 years in February 2024. Now, after a year of anticipation, Hamilton is preparing for his first race with the Maranello outfit.
While speaking to the media, including Motorsport.com, during the drivers’ press conference in Melbourne, the British driver explained that Ferrari had not been putting pressure on him since his arrival.
“I think just always 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.
“I have an expectation for myself. I know what I can bring, I know I can deliver. I know what it’s gonna take to do that and it’s just getting your head down and working away. So I come with a very open mind coming this weekend. It is about getting into a season, it’s about getting into a good rhythm.
“I’m still learning this new car. It’s quite a lot different to what I’ve driven for of my previous career in the sense of the Mercedes powertrain coming into Ferrari powertrain, it’s something quite new. Different vibrations, different feel, different way of working. The whole team works completely differently.”
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photo by: Ferrari
He added:
“I was sitting just looking at the race trace from last year, and it’s upside down compared to the previous ones. I don’t understand it at all. So, you’re looking at things all from a different perspective, which makes it exciting and challenging. So, 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.”
The Australian Grand Prix kicks off the 2025 F1 season this weekend, followed by the Chinese Grand Prix, forming the first double-header of the year.
