Ferrari is the winningest team in Formula 1 history. They’ve won 248 grand prix, 16 constructor’s titles, and 15 driver’s titles, all of which are the most by a single team in the sport’s history. Despite that, wins have recently been scarce for the Italian outfit, and championships are even more so.
This year, Ferrari added Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, to their driver lineup in an attempt to get back to their championship ways. Prior to the Belgian Grand Prix, Hamilton spoke to the media about his desire to bring Ferrari their first title since 2007.
Lewis Hamilton refuses to leave Ferrari without a championship
When Lewis Hamilton went to Ferrari, he left behind a Mercedes team that helped him win six driver’s championships. It signaled the end of an era, but with likely only a few years left in his career, he wanted to race for Ferrari and try to win his record eighth world championship in red.
Over the course of his illustrious career, Hamilton has witnessed many talented drivers walk through the doors in Maranello and walk back out without a championship firsthand. He told the media on Thursday that he refuses to let that happen to him.
“If you look at the team for the last 20 years, they have had amazing drivers – Fernando, Kimi, Sebastian. Amazing drivers, but they didn’t win a title, and I refuse to have that happen with me,” Hamilton told the media at the pre-race press conference.
🔴| Lewis Hamilton during the Driver’s Press conference on Ferrari’s upgrades for Spa:
“The positive thing is arriving at the filming day and seeing that bits are coming. We have an upgraded floor in Bahrain, then there was quite some time before our next upgrade in Austria.… pic.twitter.com/9QbaeIywDC
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) July 24, 2025
Hamilton is already 40 years old, and retirement is right around the corner. It may not come in 2026 or 2027, but he admits he doesn’t have much time. If he’s going to win in red, it needs to be sooner rather than later.
“I’m here to win. I don’t have much time, so it is crunch time.”
Time’s ticking in Maranello. If they want to win their first championship in nearly two decades, they need to be competitive out the gates in 2026 with the new regulations. Many believe the Mercedes engine is the one to have, but if Ferrari can deliver on their own power unit, they could be knocking on the door of a championship as soon as next year.
Hamilton is challenging the team to deliver a championship-winning car
Since arriving at Ferrari, Hamilton has already made an impact both operationally and on track. He’s challenging everyone in the team to be their best while also providing insight on the car and what they need to fix.
Charles Leclerc Admits the Game-Changing Impact Lewis Hamilton Is Already Having at Ferrari
“I feel it is my job to challenge every area, everybody in the team – especially the guys at the top, making the decisions,” Hamilton explained. “If you do the same things you have the same results, so I’m challenging everything. They are very responsive.”
Earlier this week, Charles Leclerc admitted he’s already seen Hamilton’s impact on the team, and he believes his input will help Ferrari compete for another world title soon.
It will be interesting to see if Hamilton helps Ferrari get out of the Championship drought they are on at the moment.
