Lewis Hamilton said he feels invigorated and full of life after making the highly anticipated switch to Ferrari, as his new car was unveiled in front of 15,000 enthusiastic fans at London’s O2 Arena on Tuesday.
The seven-time world champion has left Mercedes after 12 seasons to join the Italian giants, hoping to chase an unprecedented eighth drivers’ title when the 2025 Formula One season begins next month in Melbourne.
Ferrari, the only team to have competed in every season of Formula One’s 75-year history, offers Hamilton a fresh challenge at the age of 40. His move to the iconic ‘Scuderia’ represents a major shake-up for the sport.
“The word I am thinking of is invigorated because I feel so full of life and so much energy because everything is new and I’m just focused on what is up ahead,” said Hamilton in a brief on-stage interview — Ferrari are holding a press conference at their Maranello headquarters on Wednesday. “I’m so proud to be part of the team, something new and exciting for me,” he added.
His comments came after reigning world champion Max Verstappen suggested that Ferrari could rebirth Hamilton’s career following a few difficult seasons at Mercedes.
Hamilton secured his first win in over two years at Silverstone in July but still finished a massive 214 points behind Verstappen in the 2024 standings. His final years at Mercedes, where he won six of his seven titles, were plagued by performance struggles.
Verstappen, now chasing Michael Schumacher’s record of five consecutive titles, believes Ferrari could be the reset Hamilton needs.
Hamilton’s arrival bolsters a Ferrari team that narrowly missed out on the constructors’ championship to McLaren last year. McLaren boss Zak Brown expects him to be a serious title contender.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner also weighed in, saying Hamilton’s championship chances depend on how well he adapts to his new surroundings.
Hamilton will get his first proper feel for Ferrari’s 2025 challenger during next week’s winter testing session in Bahrain. The team hopes he can lead them to their first championship since 2007.
Tuesday’s event marked a historic moment for Formula One, with all 10 teams unveiling their new cars at the same venue for the first time. The night was packed with entertainment, including appearances by comedian Jack Whitehall, rapper Machine Gun Kelly, and a performance from 1990s UK pop icons Take That.
With the new season fast approaching, all eyes are now on Ferrari’s latest recruit—and whether Hamilton’s move can propel him back to the top of the sport.
