Ferrari have every ingredient to win – Hamilton

Ferrari’s team-man Lewis Hamilton claims that the car he hopes will win will earn him an eighth world title as they “absolutely every ingredient to win.”

Hamilton and team-mate Charles Leclerc did an initial test of the SF-25 car at Ferrari’s Fiorano test track on Wednesday.

Hamilton claimed in an exclusive interview with BBC Sport that he “couldn’t really say too much” about the car but that it “feels like a car I am getting on well with.”

The former Mercedes driver added: “From seeing the passion, everything under one roof, which I’ve never experienced before, this team has absolutely every ingredient to win.

“But we also understand that we must carry on our work.” I have no doubt that we can improve and advance everywhere, but not everywhere, but only in certain areas.

Hamilton, who first adjusted to Ferrari at the beginning of the month, will spend the week at the factory in his motorhome so that he can get as close to the Ferrari as possible.

He said:” I have genuinely loved every day I have been here.

Hamilton, 40, has driven the team’s 2023 and 2024 cars in short tests in the past weeks, before experiencing the 2025 car, which will now be shipped to Bahrain for next week’s official F1 pre-season test from 26-28 February.

The Australian Grand Prix will take place in Melbourne on March 14 and 16, making its debut race of the season.

Hamilton said, “We are] getting everything set up, so you already have them ready when we get to race one.”

We have put a lot of effort into that, as well as trying to make that process easier by getting to know each other, how they like to work, and how I like to work.

He added: “What’s key is we never want to get ahead of ourselves. Where are the other parties hiding? We’re just continuing to work hard at it one step at a time because we know that all the other teams will do a great job as well.

“I’m still getting used to the Ferrari.” It has controls and everything that I have used for the past few years in this generation of cars.

“Over the past ten years, I have been forced to work in a certain manner, and I am still adjusting to that.”

Since joining Ferrari, Hamilton has “brought a new energy to the team,” according to Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur.

Leclerc added that because of the changes Vasseur had made in the previous two years, the car had not caused him any unpleasant surprises on Wednesday.

Leclerc said, “Fred has a very strong ability to maintain the team’s emotional level.” In the past, we have been much more confident in that.

Lewis joining the team has given him a lot of support and has been fantastic in so many ways. I don’t think anything that happens on the team is going to affect how well the team is doing. Instead, I feel very calm and assured about what direction to go in.

“We had a good car but needed more performance, and that is where we focused on this car. Every single area we focused on the little things.

Hamilton said of his new team-mate: “Charles is very embedded in this team. I am aware of his quickness.