At the London evening event at the O2 Arena, Lewis Hamilton’s eyes and expression were comparable to those of Gabriel Bortoleto, Kimi Antonelli, and Isack Hadjar. The excitement of the three rookies, who are about to contest their first Formula 1 Grand Prix in a few weeks, was expected—far less so that of a seven-time world champion with 356 Grand Prix starts and 105 wins. Less than 24 hours after the London event, during a media session in Maranello, Lewis Hamilton reiterated the mix of enthusiasm and optimism that is guiding him into his 19th Formula 1 season.
The first aspect Lewis emphasized was his confidence in the team’s potential, strengthened by what he described as the right mindset to win the world championship. “Yes, I have no doubts,” he told in an interview with the Italian daily newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport. “I have worked in the past with two teams (McLaren and Mercedes) that have both won world championships, so I know what a winning team feels like. At Ferrari, everyone has a very calm approach, and no one thinks they are perfect—the mentality is ‘we must keep improving.’ And they leave nothing to chance.” – the British driver pointed out.
Expectations? “It’s too early to know how things will go; we know it will be a very close season among the top teams. I’m adapting to a new way of working, and the goal is to be ready for the first race. But obviously, we haven’t yet been on track alongside our rivals, so we can’t know their level.”
On a more personal note, Lewis Hamilton surprised many by stating that if he were to win another world title, for him, it would be his… first. “It’s not about winning an eighth title—for me, it would be the first, my first World Championship with Ferrari. It would mean becoming part of this team’s history.”
And again: “If I were fortunate enough to win another title, which is obviously what we are working towards, I don’t see myself ready to stop.” This response came when asked whether he would be prepared to leave if, at the end of 2025, he found himself celebrating an eighth world championship. The answer was clear—no. His desire is to continue, as his two-year contract signed in January 2024 already suggests.
In Hamilton’s ideal scenario, Charles Leclerc also plays a key role. In this case, Lewis confirmed what Charles himself had previously mentioned—that the start of their working and personal relationship has been excellent.
“We have a great relationship, and I consider him a very strong driver. Many years ago in Bahrain (in 2019, during Leclerc’s second race with Ferrari when he lost the victory due to a power unit issue), I said he had a bright future ahead of him. Today, Charles is only 27 years old and is very mature for his age—probably more mature than I was at 27. He is very professional, well-integrated within the team, and obviously very much loved. It won’t be easy to beat him, but we will work together to ensure the team moves in the right direction.”
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton is also continuing his efforts to learn Italian—a sign of respect for the team but also an additional way to integrate perfectly into the working group. “For many years, I’ve dreamed of learning another language, but for the English, it’s not easy because, in the end, we’re not forced to. But I want people to know that I care, that I’m truly willing to do whatever it takes to fit in. It’s a difficult challenge, but I like being at the factory in Maranello because it also allows me to practice every day.”
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