LEWIS HAMILTON - PROMISE OF THE KING.

"If I were lucky enough to win another title, which is obviously what we are working towards, I don’t see myself ready to stop."

Originally Published in: Gazzetta dello Sport

Originally Published on: Feb 20th 2025

Originally Written by: Giulia Toninelli

ⓒ LA GAZZETTA DELLO SPORT

Q: Does this Ferrari have the right mindset to try to win a title?

LH: Yes, without a doubt. I have worked in the past with two teams that have won world championships, and I know what a winning team feels like. At Ferrari, everyone has a very calm approach, but no one thinks: 'We are perfect.' Everyone reasons by saying 'we still have to improve.' And they leave nothing to chance.

Q: What are your realistic expectations for the 2025 championship?

LH: It's too early to know what the year will be like. What we know is that it will be a very tight season among the top teams. I am adapting to a new way of working and I really want to be ready for the first race, but obviously we haven't been on track with the other cars yet, so we don't know the level of our opponents.

Q: How are you finding Leclerc as a teammate?

LH: We have an excellent relationship and I consider him a very strong driver. I said it in Bahrain many years ago: he has a bright future ahead of him. Charles is only 27 years old but is very mature for his age, probably more mature than I was at 27. We will work together to ensure that the team moves in the right direction.

Q: The clear goal is to win the championship. If you were to succeed, would you like to renew the challenge, extending your story in F1, or would you choose to retire?

LH: If I were lucky enough to win another title, which is obviously what we are working towards, I don’t see myself ready to stop.

Q: Winning the eighth World Championship, what does it represent for you? A dream? An obsession?

LH: No, for me it’s not about winning the eighth title. For me, this would be the first: winning the first World Championship with Ferrari. It is about entering the history of this team by trying to achieve the first success with them after many years.

Q: The transition to Maranello is also cultural. How do you feel about Italian food?

LH: I love Italian food, I've always loved it. When I came to Italy for the first time to race go-karts when I was 13 years old, and with Nico (Rosberg) we would go out every night to eat gelato. And then I still remember that once I had an incredible lasagna, made by the mother of my first mechanic's wife. I remember it after all these years. At the moment, however, I am eating quite a bit of pizza; last week I had three.

Q: Your Italian lessons also seem to be going very well. Is learning this language an additional way for you to settle in at Ferrari?

LH: My dream has always been to learn another language, but being English, it is often more difficult for us to do so because we are not obliged. However, I want to let people know that I am interested, that I am really willing to do anything to integrate here. It’s difficult, but I like being in the factory in Maranello because I can practice every day.

[Translation proof reading by @F1REAKS / X]