Lewis Hamilton is set to make history as he steers Ferrari’s famous red car for the first time at the Australian Grand Prix in Albert Park.
After spending twelve years with Mercedes, Hamilton will be making his debut with Ferrari during this weekend’s season opener in Australia, with high stakes and expectations.
Even though he officially joined Ferrari in January and completed 162 laps of testing in Bahrain, Hamilton remains cautious about predicting Ferrari’s position in the competition.
“Three days in the car makes it tough to gauge where we stand compared to others,” he said in Melbourne. “But we’re just focusing on the job at hand.”
Despite the uncertainty, Hamilton is eager to get started, stating that it’s been a long time coming.
Ferrari was narrowly edged out by McLaren for the constructors’ title last year, which has been a recurring outcome for eight consecutive years.
Kimi Raikkonen was the last Ferrari driver to claim victory in 2007, so Hamilton is tempering expectations about his potential achievements.
“I have my own expectations, and I know I can deliver. It’s about maintaining a good rhythm and learning the new car,” he noted.
“This is a different car, different team, different power unit. It’s a fresh and challenging chapter,” he added, highlighting the unique sensations and working style with Ferrari.
Despite the adjustment period, Hamilton is invigorated by the new challenge.
“This is definitely the most exciting time of my life, and I can’t wait to get out there tomorrow,” he said.
Reflecting on what constitutes a successful race, Hamilton replied: “I just want to give my all, feel comfortable in the car, and make every step count.”
