With only a few hours until the 2025 season officially begins, all eyes are set on Hamilton

If we take a look back at last season, it is impossible not to talk about a year full of twists. In fact, the most shocking news were delivered on the 1st of February of 2024, with an announcement that broke the Internet, achieving a total of 2,984,067 likes to this day.

Breaking: Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari in 2025

It is safe to say that the Internet simply went wild, with the move of Hamilton to Ferrari becoming one of the most discussed topics in the sport in the last decades. After all, it is not everyday that a man who has achieved 78 pole positions, 84 race wins, 6 driver championships and 3911,5 points in a team that saw him rise to success, decides to leave after 11 years.

However, it does not mean everyone was pleased to hear this. Like with everything, many controversial opinions rose back then, with people putting into question the actual shape of the British man, who is now replacing former Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz (now in Williams). Most of the discussions, though, were and continue to be characterized by making the same point: “he is a 7 time world champion”. And they are right: not everyone can say that. Let’s remember that only 2 drivers have achieved this in their lifetime, holding the record for most championships. Their names: Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton.

Now it remains to see if the 7 time world champion has made the right choice for what seems to be his career’s ending. The fans who have seen him grow and rise are as excited as him about this new chapter, and confident enough about their driver finally achieving his desired 8th title before retiring from a sport in which he has left an indefinite mark. It is not necessary to remind the last time that Hamilton was close to making that happen: Abu Dhabi 2021 is a race that to this day continues to trigger many people. But that is a discussion for next time.

Since then, the driver admits he’s had some “not so spectacular years”, with the Ferrari move being an opportunity to see if he can do better and ultimately win. And right now, he’s taking in all the joy and excitement that comes from experiencing something completely new.

To feel the vibration of a Ferrari engine for the first time… Wow. That’s what I think ultimately put the biggest smile on my face. I’d always seen all the drivers that have come before me in red and wondered whether, you know, how that would look on me and… it’s a real honor to be able to wear this badge and to wear this suit.

Hamilton, who made his first Ferrari appearance in public at the F1 75 live event, has spent the last two months getting the hang of his new team. With an initial trip to Maranello, a TPC and a Pirelli test that followed, the driver recently tried the SF-25 on track during the pre-season testing. Thus, he was able to compare the new car to the SF-23 and SF-24, with the new developments clearly present. Although both him and teammate Charles Leclerc have admitted that there’s still plenty of work to do to get to the level of teams like McLaren, the car is not looking bad.

However, this weekend will be the chance to see exactly where the team truly stands, as pre-season testings are never a credible source to indicate how the season will go. And let’s not forget that the car is not the only thing necessary to win: Ferrari’s history is, after all, characterized by bad strategies and auto sabotage. The amount of lost opportunities, both regarding the World Drivers’ Championship and the World Constructors’ Championship are clear signs of that. We also know the rules: no first nor second driver. But what happens when you’re fighting for a championship? With a lineup that looks very promising and is declared by many as “the best one in ages”, there’s also the question of who to sacrifice when, and not if, the moment comes. A 7 time world champion may be entering the team, but we know Leclerc is not one to back off either. Hamilton may be the big gamble at the moment, but let’s not forget the monegasque has always been Ferrari’s project. He is, after all, called Il Predestinato for a reason. And the Tifosi will not lose the faith that he’ll bring them back to their glory days.

I want to bring Ferrari back to where it deserves to be– on top.