The beginning of the final chapter of his career is still a beginning. It will take some time for the public (as well as those within the paddock) to get used to seeing Hamilton dressed in red. In the afternoon, Lewis entered the Ferrari garage (as usual, followed by his bodyguard and videographer) for some checks requested by his engineers. In the pit lane, where lucky spectators admitted on Thursday for the highly coveted ‘pit walk’ were present, chaos immediately broke out. Security staff had to work overtime to convince the crowd to move towards the exit.
“I remember when I made my debut here in 2007 with McLaren; it was an epic feeling,” Hamilton said while looking at Kimi Antonelli, seated next to him in the press conference. “Then, right here, I had my debut with Mercedes, and it was always incredible. But this time, it feels more like 2007. Over the years, I always glanced at the red garage, and now here I am. It’s a really great feeling.” Then Lewis turned to Antonelli: “I’m also happy for this guy. I’m happy for him; he’s doing really well and is starting much earlier than I did when I made my debut. I know how many years of work go into earning this opportunity, and I think it’s really exciting to see.”
Lewis Hamilton then discussed his adaptation process at Ferrari. “I’m approaching this weekend with a very open mind. I’m still getting to know the new car, which is very different from the ones I’ve driven in my career. It’s something completely new: different vibrations, different sensations, a different way of working. I was watching last year’s race traces, and it’s very different from what I was used to. I don’t fully understand everything yet; I have to look at things from a different perspective, and that makes it all exciting. It’s definitely the most thrilling period of my life. I’m having a lot of fun, and I can’t wait to get in the car tomorrow.” – he pointed out.
When it comes to expectations, Lewis played it down. “I just want to finish the weekend knowing I gave absolutely everything and felt comfortable in the car, but I don’t know what that means in terms of results. We won’t know until tomorrow where we stand among the top teams. I hope we can compete for the top five, somewhere in that area of the standings.” Hamilton doesn’t seem concerned about the high expectations that have built up, especially in recent weeks.
“I’m living in my little bubble. I can say that I’ve gone back to my roots, dedicating all the time I have to getting the best out of myself. I spent four days a week at the Maranello headquarters. I’ve been given absolutely everything to train at my best, to push my mind and body further than ever before, trying to squeeze out every last drop. I don’t have the arrogance to think it will be easy—I know it won’t be—but I don’t feel any pressure.” – the seven-time Formula 1 world champion added.
Lewis Hamilton emphasized that he is completely unaffected by external influences. “External pressure is simply nonexistent for me. The only pressure I feel comes from within, tied to what I want to achieve. I’m not here to prove anything to anyone—I’ve been here for a very, very long time, and I’ve proven myself over and over again. I believe I know what it takes to do a good job, and that’s what I want to do for myself, for my family, and for this team, which I truly believe deserves success. When you see such a great group of passionate and motivated people, you just want to give your all and help achieve the success they deserve.” – the Ferrari man concluded ahead of the Australian Grand Prix this weekend.
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