Lewis Hamilton has made a surprising admission, expressing newfound respect for Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel’s achievements with Ferrari as he prepares for his debut season with the Italian team in 2025.
Following his car shakedown at Fiorano, Hamilton is now focused on winter testing in Bahrain, with his official Ferrari debut set for the Australian Grand Prix in March.
The 40-year-old acknowledges the challenges ahead and has developed a deeper appreciation for Alonso and Vettel’s early success with Ferrari.
Alonso secured a debut victory at the Bahrain GP, narrowly missing out on the title by four points, while Vettel won in just his second race with the team at the 2015 Malaysian GP.
Having dominated with Mercedes, Hamilton is eager to see if he can replicate their early Ferrari triumphs, though he admits it will be no easy feat.
“Those guys did an amazing job,” Hamilton told the media, including Total-Motorsport.com. “I have huge respect for those two drivers.
“Having joined teams before, the step it takes and the amount of work that goes on to acclimatising is extraordinary.
“And so it makes those results that they had even more exceptional than even I had appreciated before.”
Hamilton reveals ambitious aim to be ready for Ferrari
Hamilton is fully committed to preparing for the upcoming season, recognizing that success at Ferrari will take time, dedication, and the right approach.
With newfound respect for his predecessors’ achievements, the legendary driver is determined to carve out his own legacy with the Scuderia in 2025—potentially surpassing Michael Schumacher in the process.
When asked about matching the early success of Alonso and Vettel, Hamilton reflected on his journey with Mercedes, admitting it’s too soon to predict. However, that won’t stop him from giving it his all.
“What I know is that the testing is more limited than ever before,” Hamilton added. “And fortunately I’ve had a good bit of time in the car. I still am acclimatising.
“It took me six months, I think, at Mercedes to get my first win. I honestly, I don’t know. But I’m doing everything I can to be ready for race one.”
Fans will remember Hamilton’s relentless dominance from 2014 to 2020, securing every championship except for 2016, when an engine failure derailed his campaign with six races remaining.
During his tenure with the Silver Arrows, he amassed an incredible 84 Grand Prix wins, 50 pole positions, and 153 podium finishes.
If he achieves even a fraction of that success with Ferrari before his contract ends, there’s no doubt Fred Vasseur and John Elkann will be more than satisfied.
