Lewis Hamilton was dressed in Mercedes clobber, but his thoughts was on everyday living at Ferrari. All the queries, way too, came tinged in purple.
It was the first time the world’s most successful driver had spoken in community due to the fact his shift to the Scuderia – for the 2025 time – was announced at the start of this thirty day period.
He nodded in the direction of his current workforce, indicating do the job still to be carried out. But he talked principally of writing a sequel in a scarlet automobile, a quest that encompasses his quest for an eighth environment title. And of seeing Michael Schumacher rewrite the documents he has now matched, (7 world championships just about every) and overwhelmed (103 wins to 91), and how that rampage lit his creativity.
Speaking at pre-year testing in Bahrain, Hamilton, who signed a new £50million-a-yr deal with Mercedes only final August, stated: ‘I noticed my upcoming with Mercedes then.
‘But an option arrived up in the New 12 months and I determined to acquire it. It was the most difficult selection I have ever had to make.
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‘I have had a romantic relationship with Mercedes considering that I was 13. They have supported me, and we have had an extraordinary journey together, building heritage inside the sport. It is one thing I get a ton of pleasure in.
‘But in the long run I am producing my story, and I felt it was time to start a new chapter.’
Hamilton’s impending shift has been greased by an enhance to his wages of possibly £20m a yr, but it is as substantially clean drive as stratospheric moolah that has drawn him to Italy. He was supplied a task there by president John Elkann past summer months before penning a two-yr offer at Mercedes.
But the enterprise came with a beak clause that granted him freedom to shift somewhere else if he wished.
Ferrari’s continued curiosity won the working day, ambushing the Silver Arrows’ hopes of a lifetime affiliation with their star guy, an ambition he then equally enthusiastically embraced.
Now he is rhapsodising his subsequent destination, indicating: ‘All of us sit in our garages and see a driver in the red cockpit and marvel what it would be like to be surrounded by crimson.
The 39-12 months-outdated, who joined Mercedes in 2013, signed a two-12 months extension only past August
‘You go to the Italian Grand Prix in Monza and you see the sea of crimson Ferrari lovers and you can only stand in awe of that.
‘It is a workforce that has not experienced enormous good results since Michael’s days, and I see it as a substantial challenge.
‘As a child I applied to play the Grand Prix 2 computer sport as Michael in that (Ferrari) vehicle. It is certainly a aspiration and I am truly fired up about it.
‘I bought my very first Ferrari in 2010. That was my very first present to myself, not that I have it anymore.’
He discovered he has under no circumstances been to Ferrari’s property in Maranello, but he has a buddy there in advance of he begins, in team principal Fred Vasseur.
‘I have a excellent relationship with Fred,’ explained Hamilton, 39. ‘I raced for him in Components Three and we had incredible accomplishment, and in GP2, and that is in which the basis of our partnership began.
He is moving into his ultimate period as a Mercedes driver and looking for an eighth environment championship
‘We always remained in touch. I believed he was heading to be an astounding staff supervisor and progress to Formula One particular, and it was definitely cool to see him at Alfa Romeo. So when he got the occupation at Ferrari, I was just so satisfied for him and the stars aligned.
‘It would not have took place without him. I am definitely thrilled about the work he is carrying out there.’
The evidence of pre-time testing suggested that Hamilton may properly be on to a thing. He is a shrewd decide, just as he was when he jumped ship from McLaren to Mercedes in 2013. Just after Crimson Bull, who stand supreme, Ferrari had been second speediest this 7 days. Then it is McLaren and Mercedes. Then, arguably, Aston Martin, in advance of subsequent Saturday’s opening grand prix, once again in Bahrain.
And as for discovering Italian, he additional: ‘In all these many years I have not managed to study other languages but I will unquestionably attempt. I recall when I was karting in Italy I was in a position to decide up a several lines, so hopefully that will appear back to me.’