Lewis Hamilton has expressed that his opening weeks as a Ferrari driver have proven to him that the team possesses “all the ingredients to win” again in Formula 1.
The Briton is embarking on a new venture in the upcoming campaign having taken the decision over 12 months ago to bring an end to his illustrious relationship with Mercedes.
Having endured a challenging end to his decorated spell with the German marque, Hamilton admitted that beginning a chapter in a new environment has reinvigorated him.
With his debut laps in the SF-25 that he hopes will be a title contender complete, Hamilton emphasised that he was in no doubt that he has made the correct move.
When asked whether he was convinced that the timing to come to Ferrari was right, Hamilton replied: “100 per cent.
“I don’t have the slightest doubt or question in my head.
“I’m in the right place at the right time and it’s a great privilege to be here, to join this team and to work with everyone to try to build and continue the great historical tradition of this team.
“Every day has been exciting. Even last night, walking on that stage [at the F1 75 livery event at London’s O2] dressed in red was something totally new for me.
“To be able to meet and experience the fans is something very different doing it as an opponent or doing it as a Ferrari driver.
“To begin a journey together with them and the team is something that left me speechless.”
Hamilton confident Ferrari ready to win again
Hamilton has gone to Ferrari bidding to conclude his esteemed career with a record eighth championship to stand alone as the individual with the most titles in the series.
But while Ferrari remains the most storied team, the Italian marque hasn’t won a single title since the Constructors’ title in 2008, coinciding with Hamilton’s maiden success.
However, the seven-time F1 champion, who has vast experience in a title-winning organisation, is convinced Ferrari has the tools and the personnel to come out on top.
“I worked with two World Championship-winning teams before. I know what a winning team looks and feels like,” he told media including Motorsport Week.
“The passion here is like nothing you’ve ever seen. They’ve got absolutely every ingredient they need to win a World Championship. It’s just about putting all the pieces together.
“We’ve got a great leader in Fred and in John [Elkann] and in Benedetto [Vigna].
“Everyone just has a really calm and good approach. No one’s like, we’re perfect in every single area. Everyone’s like, we need to elevate everywhere.
“They’re leaving no stone unturned to try and do that.
Ferrari will have ‘fierce competition’
Hamilton, though, has acknowledged that Ferrari will encounter tough opposition over the upcoming campaign as he strives to help the team end its protracted drought.
“The competition is fierce and you’ve had great results from other iconic teams,” he highlighted. “McLaren, now Red Bull and obviously Mercedes.
“It’s going to be close at the top, but I’ve got a great team-mate. The energy that I’m receiving from the team, there’s magic here.
“This can still take a lot of hard work and grafting from absolutely everyone, and everyone’s putting that in already to achieve it.
“But it’s also about belief. Everyone here dreams of winning with Ferrari, every single person in this team.”
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