Hamilton ‘excited for year ahead’ after Ferrari switch

Lewis Hamilton said on Friday he “could not be more excited for the year ahead” as the seven-times world champion prepares for his first Formula One season with Ferrari.

Hamilton has joined the Italian giants from Mercedes, with whom he won six of his drivers’ world titles.

But the lure of racing for Ferrari, arguably the most celebrated team in Grand Prix history, proved too strong, with Hamilton hoping his move inspires others to seize new opportunities.

“I could not be more excited for the year ahead,” Hamilton wrote on LinkedIn. “Moving to Scuderia Ferrari, there’s a lot to reflect on.

The Englishman, who turns 40 on Tuesday, added: “To anyone considering their next move in 2025: embrace the change. Whether you’re switching industries, learning a new skill, or even just taking on new challenges, remember that reinvention is powerful. Your next opportunity is always within reach.

“Here’s to 2025 — a year of embracing new opportunities, staying hungry, and driving forward with purpose. Let’s make it one to remember. Andiamo (Let’s go).”

Hamilton ended his post with the hashtag, “new job”, alongside a picture of him karting in a red crash helmet as a child.

Hamilton, who made his name in Formula One with McLaren, has joined Ferrari after 12 seasons at Mercedes and his first race for his new team will be the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 16.

He is due to unveil his 2025 car at Ferrari’s season launch alongside team-mate Charles Leclerc on February 19 at the team’s Maranello headquarters in northern Italy, with testing in Bahrain the following week.

Hamilton ended his two-and-a-half year winless streak at the British Grand Prix in July, but finished only seventh in the 2024 world championship, a mammoth 214 points behind title-winner Max Verstappen.

Hamilton joins a Ferrari side that were narrowly beaten to the constructors’ title by McLaren last year.

He is bidding to win an outright record eighth world title — Hamilton shares the current record of seven with Michael Schumacher -- and secure Ferrari their first championship in nearly two decades.

Hamilton has a short but intense period to adapt to his new team before the start of the season in Melbourne, Australia on 14-16 March.

Ferrari have given few details of their plans for Hamilton, but he will visit the factory, drive the simulator, and do some days in a 2023 car, activities aimed at getting used to the new team and the way the car is operated.

Team principal Frederic Vasseur said at Ferrari’s official Christmas lunch last month that Hamilton’s first six weeks with the team were “critical”.

“It is not easy but he is coming with his own experience,” Vasseur said. “But he is not the rookie of the year, I am not worried at all about this. It is also the continuity of the previous regulations so we have some reference. I am not worried but it is true it is a challenge.”

Vasseur expects 2025 to be a close battle for the championship between Ferrari, McLaren, Red Bull and Mercedes.

Agencies