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Why Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton hopes to protect young drivers from 'cruel F1 world'
Peter McGinley • March 14th, 2025 10:29 am
It may have been announced a full twelve months ago – but the Australian Grand Prix this weekend finally sees Lewis Hamilton driving in red.
The seven-time World Champion, who has previously said it was a childhood dream to drive for Ferrari, reflected on finally achieving that goal ahead of another campaign at Albert Park.
“I’m very, very fortunate to have had this amazing career here in Formula 1,” Hamilton said.
“Starting with McLaren here in 2007 was an epic feeling and then starting with a new team again with Mercedes, was again incredibly special. I think this is very reminiscent of my first year.
“I think of all those years I’ve gone up and down the paddock looking and seeing the red garage, now I’m actually in the red garage, so it’s a real nice feeling.”
After pulling off one of, if not the most surprising driver swap in F1 history, the British driver was keen to take to Albert Park and get his season underway, and continue up his work and the fresh challenge presented by his move to the Scuderia.
“It looks like its going to be close between us all, but for me I mean I’m just itching to get going,” said Hamilton.
“Always through the years, the pressure I’ve put on myself has always been ten times higher than any other pressure I’ve had put on me. I’ve joined this team and not made to feel any pressure.
“It is about getting into a season and getting into a good rhythm. I’m still learning this new car….(So different) than what I’ve driven for all my previous career in Mercedes power coming into Ferrari power, something quite new, different vibrations, different feel, different way of working. The whole team works completely differently.
“I was sitting looking at the race trace from last year, and its upside down to previous ones, so you’re looking at things all in from a different perspective, which makes it exciting and challenging.
“This is the most exciting period of my life and I’m so excited to get in the car.”
The season opener sees a number of rookie drivers take to the wheel of an F1 car for the first time in Grand Prix conditions, the youngest of all being 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli, who replaced Hamilton at Mercedes.
Now aged 40, Hamilton reflected on his first season in the sport and the role he now plays with so much young talent breaking through into full-time F1 drives.
“I remember when I first started, and I remember the excitement. I remember being on track with Michael Schumacher back in the day, him being ahead of me and going 'Oh my God that’s Michael Schumacher', and then I followed him for as many laps until he came in,” said the British driver.
“I think it’s surreal, it’s very hard to believe it's true what you’re seeing, because you’re growing up every day, every weekend.
“When I’m looking at the youngsters coming through, I always really do try and make sure that I’m setting a good example with what I do.
“I want to protect them from all the incoming bombardment they will experience, because it can be a cruel world. They just need time. It takes a long time to create a diamond under pressure.
“I really, really hope they have the time and space to grow and be themselves and not have to conform, and not have to rush.
“Some drivers come in and they get booted out straight away. I hope they’re given leeway and time to make mistakes, because we’ve all made so many mistakes in our lives, but we do it in front of the world and that’s a really difficult space to do so.”
- SEN
