This week, Lewis Hamilton had his first taste of the SF-25, his very first Formula 1 car from Ferrari. Granted, a filming day at Fiorano doesn’t offer the chance to push the car to its limits, but so far, it’s been a good first acquaintance. Afterwards, Hamilton emphasized the differences between Ferrari and Mercedes, his previous team that has struggled with the so-called ground effect regulations in recent years.
“I’m still getting used to the Ferrari car,” Lewis Hamilton told the BBC. “It’s very different from what I’ve been working with in this generation of cars over the past few years.” Ferrari reportedly has a very different design philosophy than Mercedes, which has struggled with the regulations in recent years. “In addition, I’ve become accustomed to a certain way of working over the past ten years,” continued the 40-year-old Brit. “I’m still adjusting.”
In the past three seasons, Mercedes has had inconsistent results with the W13, W14, and W15. Hamilton and his former team faced various development problems, resulting in only two victories in three years. In contrast, Ferrari delivered two title-worthy cars during the same period. Last year’s SF-24 achieved five victories, and Ferrari finished just fourteen points behind McLaren in the battle for the constructors’ title.
A Leap into the Unknown
In a conversation with Motorsport Week, Lewis Hamilton delved deeper into the contrast between Ferrari and Mercedes. “I definitely have to adjust my driving style,” he confirmed. “It’s rare that you just get in and it feels perfect right away. The steering wheel is completely different, all the settings are different, the software is different,” he listed. “And besides, the car is designed very differently. That’s why I also have to adjust my approach.”
Despite the necessary adjustments, Hamilton is optimistic about his integration at Ferrari. “I don’t feel like I have to change my driving style too much at this point,” he said. “I’m taking it step by step and actually already feel quite comfortable in the car.” The seven-time world champion will be put to the test again during the winter tests in Bahrain. “On the real race tracks, we’ll see how much I need to change. It’s important to stay flexible and open-minded. But with my experience, that should be manageable.”
