As Lewis Hamilton prepares to embark on his highly anticipated debut season with Ferrari, the seven-time world champion has expressed a newfound appreciation for the achievements of Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel, who previously walked the Briton’s path at the Scuderia.
While both Alonso and Vettel were victorious at the outset with Ferrari – respectively in their first and second races with the Scuderia – Hamilton is unsure he can achieve the same feat when the 2025 season kicks off in Australia next month.
Hamilton’s move to Ferrari marks his first team switch since leaving McLaren for Mercedes in 2013.
The Inside Line | Episode 588 | SF 02The Inside Line | Episode 588 | SF 05The Inside Line | Episode 588 | SF 01
With pre-season testing in Bahrain just days away, the Briton is still acclimating to his new environment.
Reflecting on Alonso’s instant success in 2010 and Vettel’s early triumph in 2015, Hamilton acknowledged the difficulty of adapting quickly to a new team.
“That I don’t know,” Hamilton replied when asked how long it would take for him to extract maximum performance from Ferrari’s promising 2025 car.
“Those guys did an amazing job,” he added. “I have huge respect for those two drivers and, having joined teams before, the step it takes and the amount of work that goes on to acclimatising is extraordinary.
“So it makes those results that they had even more exceptional than even I had appreciated before.”
Despite the limited pre-season testing opportunities, Hamilton is doing everything in his power to be competitive from the get-go.
“What I know is that the testing is more limited than ever before but, fortunately, I’ve had a good bit of time in the car. I am still acclimatising,” he explained.
“It took me six months, I think, in Mercedes to get my first win. Honestly, I don’t know, but I’m doing everything I can to be ready for race one.”
Building Trust in a New Environment
Ferrari has been without a world title since winning the Constructors’ Championship in 2008. Hamilton is confident in the team’s potential but acknowledges that establishing strong relationships within the organization will take time.
“It’s given me even more appreciation, as I’ve mentioned, about Sebastian and Fernando joining here,” he said.
“As we’ve watched over the years, drivers moving around, some moving around a lot more than others. And I’ve always thought to myself, for me, I know how long it takes to build trust and grow within a team and grow with people.
“As I’ve experienced that with Mercedes, I’ve experienced that with McLaren. And I really cherish the longevity that I had within those places and the bonds that we created in that time. And they don’t happen overnight.”
Pushing for Perfection
Now in his 19th season in Formula 1 at the age of 40, Hamilton is determined to make his time at Ferrari count. He recognizes the immense expectations that come with driving for the sport’s most storied team and is committed to raising his performance across the board.
“This step is huge. It couldn’t be any bigger,” Hamilton admitted. “The organisation is massive.
“The passion adds to it from the fans, from the diversity, from the people within, for that desire to want to win. And you don’t want to let people down. You want to be able to deliver on your word.
“And so I just try to… How I decided to come into this year, my resolution, my mentality, is I need to elevate in absolutely every area of my site.
“My fitness, my time management, how I engage with my engineers, how much time I spend in the factory, all these different things.
“And I’ve definitely done that and I’m doing that and I will continue to do that in this strive for perfection and to achieve the success that I’m aiming to achieve. But it’s a lot of work, I have to say.”
Beyond the competitive aspects, Hamilton is also adapting to the cultural shift of working with Ferrari, a team deeply rooted in Italian heritage.
“Also, all the new brands, the whole new culture, different language, all the new brands that I’m getting to work with, which is really, every day is brand-new.
“I’m experiencing something new, which actually is really exciting, and in the short space of time, it’s really not a long time.
“From the day you join the team to the first race, it seems like, maybe for you guys, you’ve been this drawn out, but it’s not, it’s very short and there’s no shortcuts that you can take. We’re putting the work in and we’re grafting.”
As Hamilton embarks on his Ferrari journey, he remains cautiously optimistic. While Alonso and Vettel found early success, Hamilton acknowledges the challenges ahead and the time required to fully integrate into the team.
With his unwavering commitment and extensive experience, the motorsport world will be watching closely to see if he can deliver on Ferrari’s long-held championship ambitions.
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook
Williams driver Carlos Sainz has been named a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), stepping into a leadership position within the Formula 1 drivers’ body.
The 30-year-old Spaniard fills the vacancy left by four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, who stepped down from the role after retiring from F1 at the end of 2022.
Sainz, who moved from Ferrari to Williams for the 2025 season, expressed his enthusiasm for taking on the responsibility and working to shape the future of the sport alongside his fellow drivers.
“I am passionate about my sport and think we drivers have a responsibility to do all we can to work with the stakeholders to forward the sport in many aspects,” Sainz stated.
“So I’m very happy and proud to do my part by taking on the directors’ role in the GPDA.”
With his appointment, Sainz joins an influential leadership group that includes GPDA chairman Alex Wurz, Mercedes driver George Russell, and legal advisor Anastasia Fowle.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali with GPDA Chairman Alex Wurz.
Wurz welcomed Sainz’s addition, emphasizing his long-standing involvement with the association.
“We are delighted to welcome Carlos as a GPDA director,” Wurz said.
“He has been an active and engaged member of the GPDA for several years and we sincerely appreciate his commitment in stepping up to this vital role.”
Navigating a Challenging Landscape
Sainz’s directorship comes at a time when the relationship between the drivers and the FIA is facing challenges.
Recent decisions by the governing body, particularly under its president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, have raised concerns among drivers and other stakeholders.
One such point of contention is the FIA’s January decision to codify a process that could lead to race bans for drivers who use swear words.
The lack of clarity on how these rules will be implemented has further fueled unease.
Sainz has already publicly voiced his opinion on this matter, stating this month that it is wrong to threaten F1 drivers with bans for swearing, although he acknowledged that drivers should avoid bad language in news conferences and television interviews.
Another example of the tension between the GPDA and the FIA is the open letter the drivers’ association sent to the governing body in November, in which the drivers expressed their grievances towards Ben Sulayem.
The group’s statement, released after the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, was unusually blunt.
It urged Ben Sulayem to “consider his own tone and language when talking to our member drivers, or indeed about them,” and demanded transparency about the monetary fines imposed on drivers.
The backdrop to the letter was a string of controversial incidents. Max Verstappen was handed community service for swearing during the Singapore GP Thursday press conference, while Charles Leclerc received a €10,000 fine for also using the F-word in Mexico’s post-race presser.
The GPDA has yet to receive a formal response from the FIA, although Ben Sulayem suggested in no uncertain terms that it was “none of their business” how the Emirati runs the FIA.
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook
As Lewis Hamilton prepares to embark on his highly anticipated debut season with Ferrari, the seven-time world champion has expressed a newfound appreciation for the achievements of Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel, who previously walked the Briton’s path at the Scuderia.
While both Alonso and Vettel were victorious at the outset with Ferrari – respectively in their first and second races with the Scuderia – Hamilton is unsure he can achieve the same feat when the 2025 season kicks off in Australia next month.
Hamilton’s move to Ferrari marks his first team switch since leaving McLaren for Mercedes in 2013.
The Inside Line | Episode 588 | SF 02The Inside Line | Episode 588 | SF 05The Inside Line | Episode 588 | SF 01
With pre-season testing in Bahrain just days away, the Briton is still acclimating to his new environment.
Reflecting on Alonso’s instant success in 2010 and Vettel’s early triumph in 2015, Hamilton acknowledged the difficulty of adapting quickly to a new team.
“That I don’t know,” Hamilton replied when asked how long it would take for him to extract maximum performance from Ferrari’s promising 2025 car.
“Those guys did an amazing job,” he added. “I have huge respect for those two drivers and, having joined teams before, the step it takes and the amount of work that goes on to acclimatising is extraordinary.
“So it makes those results that they had even more exceptional than even I had appreciated before.”
Despite the limited pre-season testing opportunities, Hamilton is doing everything in his power to be competitive from the get-go.
“What I know is that the testing is more limited than ever before but, fortunately, I’ve had a good bit of time in the car. I am still acclimatising,” he explained.
“It took me six months, I think, in Mercedes to get my first win. Honestly, I don’t know, but I’m doing everything I can to be ready for race one.”
Building Trust in a New Environment
Ferrari has been without a world title since winning the Constructors’ Championship in 2008. Hamilton is confident in the team’s potential but acknowledges that establishing strong relationships within the organization will take time.
“It’s given me even more appreciation, as I’ve mentioned, about Sebastian and Fernando joining here,” he said.
“As we’ve watched over the years, drivers moving around, some moving around a lot more than others. And I’ve always thought to myself, for me, I know how long it takes to build trust and grow within a team and grow with people.
“As I’ve experienced that with Mercedes, I’ve experienced that with McLaren. And I really cherish the longevity that I had within those places and the bonds that we created in that time. And they don’t happen overnight.”
Pushing for Perfection
Now in his 19th season in Formula 1 at the age of 40, Hamilton is determined to make his time at Ferrari count. He recognizes the immense expectations that come with driving for the sport’s most storied team and is committed to raising his performance across the board.
“This step is huge. It couldn’t be any bigger,” Hamilton admitted. “The organisation is massive.
“The passion adds to it from the fans, from the diversity, from the people within, for that desire to want to win. And you don’t want to let people down. You want to be able to deliver on your word.
“And so I just try to… How I decided to come into this year, my resolution, my mentality, is I need to elevate in absolutely every area of my site.
“My fitness, my time management, how I engage with my engineers, how much time I spend in the factory, all these different things.
“And I’ve definitely done that and I’m doing that and I will continue to do that in this strive for perfection and to achieve the success that I’m aiming to achieve. But it’s a lot of work, I have to say.”
A Cultural Shift
Beyond the competitive aspects, Hamilton is also adapting to the cultural shift of working with Ferrari, a team deeply rooted in Italian heritage.
“Also, all the new brands, the whole new culture, different language, all the new brands that I’m getting to work with, which is really, every day is brand-new.
“I’m experiencing something new, which actually is really exciting, and in the short space of time, it’s really not a long time.
“From the day you join the team to the first race, it seems like, maybe for you guys, you’ve been this drawn out, but it’s not, it’s very short and there’s no shortcuts that you can take. We’re putting the work in and we’re grafting.”
As Hamilton embarks on his Ferrari journey, he remains cautiously optimistic. While Alonso and Vettel found early success, Hamilton acknowledges the challenges ahead and the time required to fully integrate into the team.
With his unwavering commitment and extensive experience, the motorsport world will be watching closely to see if he can deliver on Ferrari’s long-held championship ambitions.
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook
Williams driver Carlos Sainz has been named a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), stepping into a leadership position within the Formula 1 drivers’ body.
The 30-year-old Spaniard fills the vacancy left by four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, who stepped down from the role after retiring from F1 at the end of 2022.
Sainz, who moved from Ferrari to Williams for the 2025 season, expressed his enthusiasm for taking on the responsibility and working to shape the future of the sport alongside his fellow drivers.
“I am passionate about my sport and think we drivers have a responsibility to do all we can to work with the stakeholders to forward the sport in many aspects,” Sainz stated.
“So I’m very happy and proud to do my part by taking on the directors’ role in the GPDA.”
With his appointment, Sainz joins an influential leadership group that includes GPDA chairman Alex Wurz, Mercedes driver George Russell, and legal advisor Anastasia Fowle.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali with GPDA Chairman Alex Wurz.
Wurz welcomed Sainz’s addition, emphasizing his long-standing involvement with the association.
“We are delighted to welcome Carlos as a GPDA director,” Wurz said.
“He has been an active and engaged member of the GPDA for several years and we sincerely appreciate his commitment in stepping up to this vital role.”
Navigating a Challenging Landscape
Sainz’s directorship comes at a time when the relationship between the drivers and the FIA is facing challenges.
Recent decisions by the governing body, particularly under its president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, have raised concerns among drivers and other stakeholders.
One such point of contention is the FIA’s January decision to codify a process that could lead to race bans for drivers who use swear words.
The lack of clarity on how these rules will be implemented has further fueled unease.
Sainz has already publicly voiced his opinion on this matter, stating this month that it is wrong to threaten F1 drivers with bans for swearing, although he acknowledged that drivers should avoid bad language in news conferences and television interviews.
Another example of the tension between the GPDA and the FIA is the open letter the drivers’ association sent to the governing body in November, in which the drivers expressed their grievances towards Ben Sulayem.
The group’s statement, released after the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, was unusually blunt.
It urged Ben Sulayem to “consider his own tone and language when talking to our member drivers, or indeed about them,” and demanded transparency about the monetary fines imposed on drivers.
The backdrop to the letter was a string of controversial incidents. Max Verstappen was handed community service for swearing during the Singapore GP Thursday press conference, while Charles Leclerc received a €10,000 fine for also using the F-word in Mexico’s post-race presser.
The GPDA has yet to receive a formal response from the FIA, although Ben Sulayem suggested in no uncertain terms that it was “none of their business” how the Emirati runs the FIA.
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook
Haas is brimming with optimism ahead of the 2025 Formula 1 season, believing its latest challenger, the VF-25, will provide a “massive boost” if its real-world performance aligns with encouraging simulation data.
The American outfit has worked extensively on overcoming the weaknesses of its predecessor, the VF-24, with a particular emphasis on rear-end aerodynamics.
Haas head of aero Davide Paganelli shared his insights into the development process and the team’s high expectations.
“With the help of the performance team, we tried to work on the whole car as a package to be able to solve the issue,” explained Paganelli.
“An indication of this is that we worked a lot on the rear of the car, and particularly the rear wing. I think that we’ve done a really good job on this for 2025.
“We believe the package we’ve designed is a really good one in terms of development. Obviously, we must check if the delivery is what we expect.
If we’re able to see on track what we think we’re discovering in the wind tunnel, I think that we can have a massive boost from the very first race.”
Addressing Inconsistencies
While Haas enjoyed a solid campaign in 2024, recording its best position in F1’s Constructors’ standings since 2018, its car experienced fluctuating performance, with results varying significantly from track to track.
Paganelli believes the VF-25 should provide a more consistent level of competitiveness across different circuits.
“We’ve tried to design a car that can adapt to different races as one of the weaknesses we had last year was not being able to be able to perform at the same level at circuits with different characteristics,” the Italian said.
“I think that we did a good job in trying to close this kind of gap as well as providing a configuration that is better in hotter races.
“We know at the beginning of the season we have some hot races, so we should be able to compete.”
A Positive Atmosphere Within Haas
Under the leadership of team principal Ayao Komatsu, Haas has seen significant internal growth, boosting both morale and operational efficiency.
“Last year we grew a lot in terms of design resource and we also gained a lot of confidence that we can definitely do better,” said Paganelli.
“The mood in the design office today is absolutely positive, we can feel the energy here. Last season we were able to demonstrate to ourselves and the rest of the grid that we can do a very good job.
“We consider 2024 a success because we came into this season being last in the championship.
“It was really difficult to be able to deliver something positive with the same resource, but by changing the organisational structure we unlocked the potential of team members, and that was really satisfying.”
Haas officially ran its VF-25 for the first time last weekend at Silverstone, with new signing Esteban Ocon behind the wheel.
Meanwhile, rookie teammate Oliver Bearman is set to drive the car for the first time on Monday at the Bahrain International Circuit ahead of the crucial pre-season test next week.
With early signs pointing to a strong package, Haas is eager to see how the VF-25 stacks up on track as it aims for further progress in the 2025 campaign.
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook
Haas is brimming with optimism ahead of the 2025 Formula 1 season, believing its latest challenger, the VF-25, will provide a “massive boost” if its real-world performance aligns with encouraging simulation data.
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