Lewis Hamilton has spoken about how Ferrari might still need time before returning to world championship glory, sending a message to the passionate fans of the Prancing Horse. The seven-time world champion opened up in an interview with Ferrari Magazine about what makes the Italian team so unique and why winning a title could take a few more years. Lewis Hamilton also revealed some insights into what he has experienced so far at Maranello.
The Prancing Horse has not had an easy season, which has undoubtedly affected the British driver’s performance. Lewis Hamilton now seems to be finding his rhythm again, but after twenty races, he is still without a single podium finish. The partnership between him and the iconic red car was expected to be a winning combination, bringing together two legendary names in Formula 1. While the collaboration has certainly paid off financially, success on track has yet to come. The seven-time world champion reflected on this situation with honesty.
Hamilton: “Rome wasn’t built in a day”
“I knew that the alignment of our names would have a huge impact. But when it actually happened, I was still amazed and thought, ‘This is beyond my imagination.’ It’s a beautiful moment and there have been many positives, but it’s also a commitment that comes with great responsibility, and the weight of expectations is heavy. Everyone expects to win immediately, but ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day.’ How long did it take? We should probably check,” Lewis Hamilton said, laughing.
It is clear that achieving success requires time, but Ferrari must aim to return to winning ways by 2026, or at least make a serious attempt. Moreover, Lewis Hamilton knows that time is not on his side, and his adventure in red could come to an end as early as 2027.
“Only when you are part of a team can you really understand how it works, and the same goes for Formula 1. Otherwise, you can’t truly know how a car functions. I’ve been in F1 my whole life, but when I joined this team, I found myself facing yet another completely different environment. That’s why I don’t blame people who don’t understand what it means. The only thing I can do is keep focusing on what I can control – how I prepare, how I work with the team, how I show up every day, and how I maintain a positive attitude.”
Hamilton and his love for Ferrari
“I never imagined that one day I would be part of all this. To be honest, at the beginning I was a bit worried about cultural differences, but as soon as I arrived, I was welcomed with great open-mindedness. In the end, we’re all human beings. Once you form a bond, everything else fades into the background. Red is one of my favourite colours. Ferrari is history, and everything the brand represents. The cars are masterpieces. Then there’s the Italian language, the culture, the food, and the way people express their enthusiasm for everything. Even though over the years the team has welcomed people from many different backgrounds and cultures, the heart of Ferrari remains Italian.”
“When you get behind the wheel of a Ferrari, it’s love at first sight. A completely different connection is created. Every team has its own strengths, but the Italians express their emotions more openly — for better or worse, though mostly in a positive way, I’d say. You can feel their passion in everyday things, like the way they talk about food. In England, it’s unthinkable to have an animated debate about fish and chips — if you know what I mean,” he added with a smile.
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