Lewis Hamilton stated there was “magic” inside Ferrari that may assist him make System 1 historical past.
Hamilton’s transfer to the staff, a narrative that started in February final yr when he introduced he can be leaving Mercedes on the finish of 2024, has dominated the buildup to the brand new season. Australia will host the primary race, on March 16, for the primary time since 2019.
“I’ve labored with two world championship-winning groups, and I do know what a profitable staff appears and looks like,” Hamilton stated. He received the primary of his seven titles with McLaren in 2008, and the opposite six with Mercedes. No driver has received eight.
“Everybody right here at Ferrari has the eagerness like nothing you’ve ever seen. They’ve completely bought each ingredient they should win a world championship. It’s about placing all of it collectively.”
Ferrari has not had a drivers’ champion since Kimi Raikkonen in 2007. Its final constructors’ title was 17 years in the past. The staff missed out final yr when it was overwhelmed by McLaren by 14 factors.
Zak Brown, the chief govt of McLaren Racing, stated he “positively anticipated” that Hamilton can be “a championship contender.”
Christian Horner, the Purple Bull staff principal, agreed.
“If he will get off to an excellent begin, will get the staff behind him, finds his confidence and he rides off that power, then I can see him changing into an actual contender,” Horner stated.
“However a lot will rely upon how he gels with the staff within the early a part of the season. Everyone knows what Lewis is able to, and if he’s re-energized in a distinct atmosphere, completely he could possibly be an actual issue.”
Hamilton holds the report for drivers’ titles with Michael Schumacher, who received 5 of his seven with Ferrari. On an eighth, Hamilton stated: “To me, it could be the primary. Successful the championship for Ferrari is the primary. That’s what I’m working in direction of. I don’t take into consideration eight.
“I’m fascinated by the primary championship the staff’s not received for a while, though they’ve already had many over their historical past. For me, it’s on the lookout for that first one with the staff, and proper now it’s about how can I contribute to that, how can I assist them obtain that.”
The season could possibly be one of the aggressive. New aerodynamic guidelines had been launched in 2022 devised to make for nearer racing, just for Purple Bull and Max Verstappen to dominate that yr and in 2023.
Though Verstappen received the drivers’ title once more final yr for his fourth in succession, he didn’t have all of it his personal approach, and Purple Bull was deposed as constructors’ champion. Seven drivers from 4 groups received Grands Prix, essentially the most since 2012.
With higher convergence anticipated this season within the remaining yr of the laws earlier than a serious change subsequent yr, Verstappen is anticipating shut racing.
“That’s why the principles had been set like that,” he stated. “I hope it’s thrilling and we get plenty of totally different winners, groups as nicely. That might be nice for the game.”
Hamilton stated it was “going to be shut on the prime.” It’s one other English driver, Lando Norris of McLaren, who is likely one of the favorites.
Final yr Norris and his teammate, Oscar Piastri, helped McLaren win its first constructors’ title since 1998. Norris received 4 Grands Prix and completed second within the drivers’ standings behind Verstappen.
“A recent problem for everybody contained in the staff this yr is to take care of that success,” Norris stated. “Are they only completely satisfied, suppose they’ve performed it and get complacent, or do they need extra? Hopefully it’s the second much more than the primary.
“The mentality is we need to begin nicely from the off. That’s a giant factor for us as a result of we haven’t performed that. We’ve not began as a favourite. So the mentality is to proceed from final yr, which is the right mentality, the mentality we’d like, and we’re heading in the right direction.”
Norris completed 63 factors behind Verstappen, who received 4 of the primary 5 Grands Prix. After adjustments to the McLaren automobile, Norris received the Miami Grand Prix after which three extra Grands Prix, transferring him into rivalry.
“I really feel we’re nonetheless underdogs in some methods, in comparison with the struggle between Purple Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes, however we’ve confirmed we’ve what it takes, and the staff has performed a fantastic job to proceed pushing, to enhance on what we had,” Norris stated.
“We don’t anticipate it to be any simpler this season, solely tougher, however the staff is making an attempt to make it as simple as doable for me and Oscar once we get on observe.”
Norris can anticipate to be pushed by Piastri, who received two races final yr. Late final season, to help Norris’ problem to Verstappen, McLaren made him its No. 1 driver, favoring him tactically when doable.
This yr there’s a clear slate and Piastri needs to take benefit.
“I need to win the world championship this yr,” Piastri stated. “Hopefully, we’ve a automobile that’s able to doing that from the beginning. In fact, everybody goes to have that mentality. It’s a must to.
“However we’re going to have the ability to race one another. We’ve proven time and time once more we are able to race one another onerous however cleanly, and so long as we’re not taking factors off the staff, then that’s how we’re going to go racing.”
To turn out to be champion, Norris and Piastri must prevail in wheel-to-wheel fight with Verstappen. It’s an space wherein Norris stated that he didn’t fare nicely on events final yr and that he had to enhance.
“I can fortunately admit there have been some issues the place I simply didn’t do a adequate job,” Norris stated. “I wasn’t fairly on the degree I needed to be to race in opposition to Max, however then we’re speaking about going up in opposition to one of many hardest attacking defensive guys.”
Verstappen has a better life at Purple Bull. He’s its No. 1 driver, with a brand new teammate, Liam Lawson of New Zealand.
After competing in 11 Grands Prix over the previous two seasons for Purple Bull’s sister staff, AlphaTauri, later renamed to RB, Lawson has changed Sergio Pérez.
“Liam’s job is kind of clear,” Horner stated. “He’s there to attempt to present as a lot assist as he presumably can. There’s not an expectation for him to exit and beat a four-time world champion,” referring to Verstappen. “If he does, incredible.”
“Being Max’s teammate might be the hardest seat in System 1. We’ll do our greatest to guard and develop him. He solely has 11 Grands Prix underneath his belt, so it’s a giant ask, however he’s bought the potential, expertise and psychological power to take care of it.”
Though it’s Lawson’s debut full-time season in System 1, he stated he didn’t take into account himself a rookie. There are 5 on the grid, Oliver Bearman of Haas, Gabriel Bortoleto of Stake, Jack Doohan of Alpine, Isack Hadjar of Racing Bulls and Andrea Antonelli of Mercedes.
The largest highlight is on Antonelli, who’s also referred to as Kimi and is Hamilton’s alternative — a phrase Antonelli doesn’t like. “I don’t discover it proper,” he stated. “He has performed a lot within the sport. I simply really feel like I’m the subsequent Mercedes driver.”
Bearman, a junior driver with Ferrari, made his debut in Saudi Arabia final yr when he drove for Carlos Sainz, who wanted an appendectomy. Bearman additionally drove in two Grands Prix for Haas, changing Kevin Magnussen.
If Bearman performs over the subsequent two years with Haas, he may exchange Hamilton. It’s not one thing that he’s fascinated by.
“My important objectives for the season are to study as a lot as I can, construct up from race to race, have plenty of self-discipline and work onerous,” Bearman stated.
“Crucial factor, that’s simply ignored, is you solely get one rookie season, and I actually need to get pleasure from it. I’m dwelling my dream, and I’m very fortunate to be right here.”
Hamilton additionally needs to get pleasure from his debut season with Ferrari. Earlier than a wheel has turned, he is aware of he’s in the proper place to win an eighth title.
“The power I’m receiving from the staff, there’s magic right here,” he stated. “It’s nonetheless going to take plenty of onerous work.
“But it surely’s additionally about perception, and each single individual right here goals of profitable a title with Ferrari.”
