Lewis Hamilton believes Ferrari can win F1 title
Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool
Lewis Hamilton confident Ferrari has "every ingredient" necessary to secure a world championship.
Lewis Hamilton has publicly expressed his belief that Ferrari possesses ‘every ingredient’ necessary to secure a world championship, even as he confirmed that he has no intentions of leaving Formula 1 should he clinch a record-breaking eighth title this year.
The seven-time champion made headlines during the off-season with a sensational transfer from Mercedes to Ferrari, a move that has been the center of attention in the lead-up to the 2023 season.
Ferrari, which finished a close second to McLaren in last year's constructors' championship, hasn't won a title since 2008, nor has it secured a driver's championship since Kimi Raikkonen's triumph in 2007. Hamilton’s arrival at the team is seen by many as a crucial element that could end this title drought.
Upon his arrival at Ferrari last month, Hamilton commented on the readiness of the team to fight for the championship in his inaugural season.
"Yes," Hamilton affirmed when questioned about Ferrari's capability to win a championship. "I've worked with two world championship-winning teams before, and I know what a winning team looks and feels like.
"The passion here is like nothing you have ever seen. They have got every ingredient they need to win a world championship, it's just about putting all the pieces together. We've got great leaders in Fred [Vasseur, team principal], John [Elkann, Ferrari president], and Benedetto [Vigna, Ferrari CEO], and everyone just has a really calm and good approach.
"No one is like, 'we're perfect in every single area.' Everyone wants to elevate everywhere, and they are leaving no stone unturned to do that."
Hamilton matched Michael Schumacher’s record of seven world titles in 2020. Despite questions about potential retirement upon winning an eighth title, Hamilton clarified his stance.
"If I was fortunate enough to win another title, which is obviously what we are setting out to do, I don't see myself stopping."
Hamilton's first title came in 2008 with McLaren, and he went on to win six more with Mercedes from 2014 to 2020. In 2021, he narrowly missed an eighth title due to a controversial race director decision in the season finale, which allowed Max Verstappen to claim victory.
When probed about whether he seeks revenge for the 2021 season, Hamilton emphasized the unique significance of winning a championship with Ferrari.
"To me, it would be the first," he remarked. "Winning the championship for Ferrari is the first. That's what I'm working towards. I don't think about the number eight. I'm thinking about the first championship that the team's won for some time, although they've already had many, many world championships over the history. So, for me, it's looking for that first one with the team, and right now it's about how can I contribute to that? How can I help them achieve that?"
Hamilton’s switch to Ferrari marks only his second team change since he debuted in 2007. After 12 years at Mercedes, the transition presents both a challenge and an opportunity.
"I've always thought to myself, for me, I know how long it takes to build trust and grow within a team and grow with people," Hamilton explained. "I've experienced that with Mercedes, I've experienced that with McLaren, and I really cherish the longevity that I had within those places and the bonds that we created in that time. They don't happen overnight.
"This step [to Ferrari] is huge. It couldn't be any bigger. The organization is massive. The passion adds to it—from the fans, from the diversity, from the people within, for that desire to want to win. And you don't want to let people down. You want to be able to deliver on your word.
"My resolution, my mentality, is I need to elevate in absolutely every area of my side. My fitness, my time management, how I engage with my engineers, how much time I spend in the factory, all these different things. And I've definitely done that and I'm doing that and I will continue to do that in this strive for perfection and to achieve the success that I'm aiming to achieve. But it's a lot of work, I have to say."
Hamilton's commitment to Ferrari and his drive to win are palpable as he embarks on what could be a historic season with the legendary Scuderia. Fans and critics alike are eagerly awaiting to see if Hamilton and Ferrari can indeed end their championship drought and make history together.
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