Lewis Hamilton stated there was “magic” inside Ferrari that may assist him make Formulation 1 historical past.
Hamilton’s transfer to the staff, a narrative that started in February final yr when he introduced he could 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 seems and appears like,” Hamilton stated. He gained the primary of his seven titles with McLaren in 2008, and the opposite six with Mercedes. No driver has gained eight.
“Everybody right here at Ferrari has the fervour like nothing you’ve ever seen. They’ve completely obtained 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 crushed by McLaren by 14 factors.
Zak Brown, the chief government of McLaren Racing, stated he “positively anticipated” that Hamilton could be “a championship contender.”
Christian Horner, the Pink Bull staff principal, agreed.
“If he will get off to a great begin, will get the staff behind him, finds his confidence and he rides off that power, then I can see him turning 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 special surroundings, completely he might be an actual issue.”
Hamilton holds the file for drivers’ titles with Michael Schumacher, who gained 5 of his seven with Ferrari. On an eighth, Hamilton stated: “To me, it will be the primary. Successful the championship for Ferrari is the primary. That’s what I’m working in the direction of. I don’t take into consideration eight.
“I’m desirous about the primary championship the staff’s not gained 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 might be probably the most aggressive. New aerodynamic guidelines have been launched in 2022 devised to make for nearer racing, just for Pink Bull and Max Verstappen to dominate that yr and in 2023.
Though Verstappen gained the drivers’ title once more final yr for his fourth in succession, he didn’t have all of it his personal means, and Pink Bull was deposed as constructors’ champion. Seven drivers from 4 groups gained Grands Prix, essentially the most since 2012.
With better convergence anticipated this season within the last yr of the laws earlier than a serious change subsequent yr, Verstappen is anticipating shut racing.
“That’s why the foundations have been set like that,” he stated. “I hope it’s thrilling and we get a whole lot of completely different winners, groups as nicely. That will be nice for the game.”
Hamilton stated it was “going to be shut on the high.” It’s one other English driver, Lando Norris of McLaren, who is among the favorites.
Final yr Norris and his teammate, Oscar Piastri, helped McLaren win its first constructors’ title since 1998. Norris gained 4 Grands Prix and completed second within the drivers’ standings behind Verstappen.
“A contemporary problem for everybody contained in the staff this yr is to cope with that success,” Norris stated. “Are they only comfortable, assume they’ve completed 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 an enormous factor for us as a result of we haven’t completed that. We’ve not began as a favourite. So the mentality is to proceed from final yr, which is the proper mentality, the mentality we want, and we’re heading in the right direction.”
Norris completed 63 factors behind Verstappen, who gained 4 of the primary 5 Grands Prix. After adjustments to the McLaren automotive, Norris gained the Miami Grand Prix after which three extra Grands Prix, shifting him into rivalry.
“I really feel we’re nonetheless underdogs in some methods, in comparison with the struggle between Pink Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes, however we’ve confirmed we have now what it takes, and the staff has completed an important job to proceed pushing, to enhance on what we had,” Norris stated.
“We don’t count on it to be any simpler this season, solely tougher, however the staff is attempting to make it as simple as potential for me and Oscar after we get on observe.”
Norris can count on to be pushed by Piastri, who gained two races final yr. Late final season, to help Norris’ problem to Verstappen, McLaren made him its No. 1 driver, favoring him tactically when potential.
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 have now a automotive that’s able to doing that from the beginning. After all, 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 will race one another arduous 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 change into champion, Norris and Piastri should prevail in wheel-to-wheel fight with Verstappen. It’s an space by which 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 neater life at Pink 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 Pink 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 try to present as a lot help as he probably can. There’s not an expectation for him to exit and beat a four-time world champion,” referring to Verstappen. “If he does, implausible.”
“Being Max’s teammate might be the hardest seat in Formulation 1. We’ll do our greatest to guard and develop him. He solely has 11 Grands Prix below his belt, so it’s an enormous ask, however he’s obtained the potential, expertise and psychological power to cope with it.”
Though it’s Lawson’s debut full-time season in Formulation 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 called Kimi and is Hamilton’s alternative — a phrase Antonelli doesn’t like. “I don’t discover it proper,” he stated. “He has completed 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 change Hamilton. It isn’t one thing that he’s desirous about.
“My predominant targets for the season are to study as a lot as I can, construct up from race to race, have a whole lot of self-discipline and work arduous,” Bearman stated.
“Crucial factor, that’s simply ignored, is you solely get one rookie season, and I actually need to take pleasure in it. I’m residing my dream, and I’m very fortunate to be right here.”
Hamilton additionally needs to take pleasure in 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 a whole lot of arduous work.
“However it’s additionally about perception, and each single individual right here desires of profitable a title with Ferrari.”
