Lewis Hamilton: Key questions answered forward of Ferrari debut at Australian GP in F1 season opener

After greater than a 12 months of anticipation, there are only a few days left to attend for Lewis Hamilton’s aggressive debut in a Ferrari.

The seven-time world champion surprised the sporting world by agreeing a transfer to Ferrari in February 2024 however wanted to see out the ultimate 12 months of his Mercedes contract earlier than becoming a member of the Italian group.

In what was already tipped to be an exciting season as Method 1 enters the ultimate 12 months of its present rules cycle, the game’s most well-known driver being on the wheel of its most well-known automobile has pre-season curiosity at what seems to be an all-time excessive.

The venue for Hamilton’s first Ferrari race look is the Australian Grand Prix, with Melbourne stepping in to host the season-opener for the primary time since 2019 because of the Bahrain Grand Prix being pushed again to April due to Ramadan.

Whereas the placement calls for an early wake-up for Hamilton’s British fanbase, the unbelievable fan-friendly environment at Albert Park is certain to create one of the crucial memorable weekends the game has seen for some time.

Forward of Hamilton’s bow, right here is every part it’s worthwhile to find out about how we received so far and what to anticipate.

How Hamilton joined Ferrari

Hamilton had lengthy been linked with a transfer to Ferrari however time seemed to be operating out because the Brit approached his 40s and Ferrari appeared settled with a powerful driver line-up of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.

Nonetheless, Hamilton was clearly annoyed after two years – and an impending third – of not having a automobile able to permitting him to compete for a file eighth drivers’ title, and maybe additionally paying attention to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff’s need to signal his nice rival Max Verstappen and convey by means of teenage sensation Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

Gradual progress in negotiations between Sainz and Ferrari over a brand new contract opened a window, and really abruptly on February 1, Sky Sports activities Information’ Craig Slater led the worldwide media by confirming Hamilton was becoming a member of Ferrari.

The end result was a barely awkward twelfth and ultimate marketing campaign at Mercedes for Hamilton, which included a surprising victory on the British Grand Prix but additionally loads of lows as he was dominated in qualifying by team-mate George Russell.

Whereas he in the end appeared to depart the Silver Arrows on excellent phrases, Hamilton made it clear within the latter levels of 2024 that he could not wait to get to Ferrari.

Hamilton’s intense testing regime

Hamilton had his first official day at Ferrari on Monday January 20, with each group and driver sharing hanging imagery of his go to to their Maranello base, the place he was greeted by chairman John Elkann, chief govt Benedetto Vigna and group principal Fred Vasseur.

A few days later Hamilton started a TPC (Testing of Earlier Vehicles) programme designed to familiarise him with the various components of Ferrari’s automobile and trackside operations that differ to what he had grow to be accustomed to at Mercedes.

Regardless of misty circumstances and the take a look at technically being non-public, a whole bunch, maybe 1000’s of followers confirmed as much as assist Hamilton at Ferrari’s Fiorano circuit, and he confirmed his appreciation by venturing out to the sting of the circuit to acknowledge them.

Hamilton’s subsequent outing was in Barcelona per week later, the place he would make headlines after crashing the group’s 2023 automobile, regardless of no movies or pictures of the incident or automobile ever changing into out there.

He had additional outings in Barcelona, first in a Pirelli tyre take a look at in Ferrari’s 2024 automobile after which maxing out his TPC allowance with an additional run on the Circuit de Catalunya again within the 2023 mannequin.

Hamilton received to drive Ferrari’s 2025 challenger – albeit underneath limitations – for the primary time on February 19 at their Fiorano shakedown.

Then got here official pre-season testing in Bahrain, which appeared to go easily for the primary two days earlier than a technical problem on the ultimate afternoon prevented Hamilton from doing a race simulation and left a number of query marks hanging over Ferrari.

What has Hamilton stated about Ferrari’s 2025 automobile?

Earlier than pre-season testing Hamilton repeatedly defined how thrilling and pleasing he was discovering his first weeks at Ferrari, however essentially the most attention-grabbing feedback he has made got here after he drove the SF-25.

Talking in Bahrain after his second day within the automobile, Hamilton stated: “I think it’s a bit early to say but I am really enjoying the car. We are slowly bonding I think.

“To this point, I actually get pleasure from driving this automobile.”

Hamilton did extra interviews on Friday, by which level McLaren’s Lando Norris – the early title favorite – had accomplished a powerful race simulation that caught the attention of the paddock.

Whereas his tone remained optimistic, Hamilton appeared to simply accept Ferrari wouldn’t essentially be beginning the season on par with the reigning constructors’ champions.

“McLaren did a great run yesterday, and I think also Max did a decent one today, given the temperatures,” he stated. “It’s hard to know what fuel loads everyone is running, as we’re all doing our own different programmes, so you have to take everything with a pinch of salt.

“McLaren gained the constructors final 12 months. We anticipate them to be one of many quickest, if not the quickest, as with Purple Bull, who dominated for a lot of, a few years.

“We’ve definitely got some work to do to improve.”

Is a file eighth championship reasonable?

It will undoubtedly be nice for Method 1 for Hamilton to be in rivalry for a file eighth title, with such a storyline positive to transcend the game after his controversial 2021 denial of the landmark triumph.

Earlier than testing, most seen McLaren and Ferrari as more likely to have the strongest 2025 automobiles, making Norris and his team-mate Oscar Piastri contenders together with Hamilton and Leclerc.

Regardless of a sense Purple Bull could possibly be behind their rivals, Verstappen stays a significant contender given he’s unlikely to lose many, if any factors to new team-mate Liam Lawson.

It’s all the time harmful to learn an excessive amount of into testing, firstly as a result of you may by no means be fully positive through which modes and setups the automobiles had been being run, but additionally due to the circumstances.

The latter factor was notably important given temperatures had been properly under the anticipated degree in Bahrain, and Ferrari boss Vasseur hinted that the circumstances could not have suited his squad, suggesting in Melbourne it “will probably be a whole different story.”

The opposite query is whether or not Hamilton nonetheless has the power to win a title.

There’s little doubt his race tempo and craft stays up there with some other driver on the grid, however he might want to rediscover some type in qualifying – notably in opposition to the speedy Leclerc – if he’s to have any hope of being within the combine.

What do the Sky Sports activities F1 pundits anticipate of Hamilton?

Sky Sports activities F1’s Ted Kravitz says that there needs to be no panic even when Ferrari should not fairly on the tempo of McLaren – or anybody else – to begin the season.

“There are some very positive signs that Hamilton is enjoying the way the Ferrari drives more than the Mercedes,” Ted stated.

“I think he has got what he wanted in terms of driver positioning within the cockpit. There are no complaints on any side. Crucially, he has identified that the designers and the team behind him are up to championship quality and he recognises that he has everything he needs in the team to develop the car and out-develop his rivals to try and win this year’s championship.

“So even when the Ferrari is not profitable races initially of the season, Lewis Hamilton is certain that they’ll be capable to win races and meet up with whoever the pacesetter is.”

Sky Sports activities F1’s Martin Brundle is anticipating to see a completely revitalised Hamilton on the grid.

He stated: “As the old adage goes, a change is as good as a rest and the Ferrari move does seem to be working for Lewis. I’ve never seen him smile so much.

“Whereas we have seen up to now the likes of Fernando Alonso, Kimi Raikkonen, Michael Schumacher and Niki Lauda return after trip of the game, Lewis has by no means had a break from F1 since he began in 2007, however I do suppose this Ferrari transfer is the equal for him.

“We’re seeing that just observing him and reading his words. He seems really energised and invigorated by this new opportunity.”

How lengthy will Hamilton go on for at Ferrari?

Hamilton signed what was introduced as a “multi-year” take care of Ferrari, which means he’s anticipated to on the very least drive for the Italian group in 2026 when drastic new rules are launched, probably fully resetting the pecking order.

The one situations through which one might think about Hamilton selecting to cease can be the chic or disastrous. An eighth title might go away him content material, whereas a poor marketing campaign has the potential to depart him with out perception that he’s nonetheless in a position to compete along with his youthful rivals.

All alerts recommend that is greater than a one-season transfer, and that if issues go properly, Hamilton might drive for a number of years at Ferrari.

Shortly earlier than his transfer was introduced initially of 2024, he employed long-time buddy Marc Hynes as his ‘race director’ in a shake-up of his assist group that appeared constructed to make sure the megastar might absolutely concentrate on racing.

Since becoming a member of Ferrari, Hamilton has additionally re-appointed efficiency coach Angela Cullen, who left his group in 2023 after supporting him by means of a vastly profitable interval at Mercedes.

Sky Sports activities F1’s reside Australian GP schedule

Thursday March 13

• 2.30am: Drivers’ Press Convention
• 5am: The F1 Present: Lights Out 2025*
• 9.45pm: F3 Apply
• 10.55pm: F2 Apply

Friday March 14

• 1am: Australian GP Apply One (session begins at 1.30am)*
• 2.55am: F3 Qualifying*
• 3.40am: Crew Principals’ Press Convention
• 4.45am: Australian GP Apply Two (session begins at 5am)*
• 6.25am: F2 Qualifying*
• 7.15am: The F1 Present*

Saturday March 15

• 12.10am: F3 Dash*
• 1.10am: Australian GP Apply Three (session begins at 1.30am)*
• 3.10am: F2 Dash*
• 4.15am: Australian GP Qualifying build-up*
• 5am: AUSTRALIAN GP QUALIFYING*
• 7am: Ted’s Qualifying Pocket book*
• 9.55pm: F3 Function Race*

Sunday March 16

• 12.25am: F2 Function Race*
• 2.30am: Australian GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
• 4am: THE AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX*
• 6am: Australian GP response: Chequered Flag*
• 7am: Ted’s Pocket book*
• 7.55am: Australian GP race replay
• 10am: Australian GP highlights
• 7pm: Villeneuve Pironi – Racing’s Untold Tragedy

*Additionally on Sky Sports activities Primary Occasion

Watch all 24 race weekends from the 2025 Method 1 season reside on Sky Sports activities F1, beginning with the Australian GP on March 14-16. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – No contract, cancel anytime