One of the most exciting storylines as the Australian Grand Prix approaches is Lewis Hamilton in the Ferrari. After racing with a Mercedes-powered engine for almost his entire life, Hamilton will be switching gears as he takes on the red this year. But this comes with a lot of pressure to deliver for Ferrari.
Being a Ferrari driver is one of the biggest accomplishments one can achieve. But the change will not be easy on Hamilton. It is not just a change in the car but a change in the environment as well. The Ferrari factory is located in Maranello, where the culture is significantly different from Hamilton’s time at Mercedes, where the base is located at Brackley.
Lewis Hamilton addresses pressure as he joins Ferrari
During the press conference ahead of the Australian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton spoke about the pressure he has to perform with Ferrari.
“The pressure I put on myself is ten times higher than any put upon me,” says Hamilton,
“But I’m still learning this new car, which is very different to everything I’ve driven my whole career, not Mercedes-power. And the team works quite differently, and you need to look at everything from a different perspective.”
He adds that this is “the most exciting period of my life,”.
While Hamilton might be putting pressure on himself, he is yet to witness the pressure put on him by the Tifosi. He will witness this in full during the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. The Tifosi is always energized in Monza and could give Hamilton a new perspective on the performance that is expected by the most passionate motorsport fans.
Despite making history with Mercedes, Hamilton realized that the team has not been in top form for the past few years. Ever since the new cycle of technical regulations came around in 2022, Mercedes has not been on top.
Ferrari, on the other hand, has been showing some positive results and could be competing for the Championship this year. But Hamilton may need some time to get adjusted to the car.
Hamilton prepares for teammate battle with Charles Leclerc
While the attention has been on Lewis Hamilton as we approach the Australian Grand Prix, let us not forget his teammate, Charles Leclerc.
The Monegasque has been with Ferrari since 2019 and has established himself as a strong competitor in F1. He has already won 8 races, including 2 in Monza and 1 in Monaco, his home race. So let’s not count him out as the 2025 season approaches.
With both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari arguably has the best driver lineup on the grid. The last time Hamilton had competition from his teammate while battling for the Championship was back in 2016 when he lost against Nico Rosberg.
Lewis has not always had the best relationships with teammates while fighting for Championships. We all know how he got along with Fernando Alonso during his rookie year with McLaren. So if we see a battle between the 2 Ferrari teammates for the title, we can expect tensions to get high.
Do you think Lewis Hamilton can win a Championship with Ferrari? Post your thoughts in the comments section below.
