Before races in Imola
Hamilton to Ferrari change: didn’t know how hard it would be
05/16/2025 – 02:11 a.m.Reading time: 2 min.
Lewis Hamilton has admitted to having underestimated the situation at Ferrari. “There is still a lot of work ahead of us,” said the World Cup seventh.
Formula 1 record world champion Lewis Hamilton has admitted to underestimated the challenge at Ferrari. “I expected it to get very hard, but I just didn’t know how hard it would be,” said the Brit in Imola: “I knew that it would be a challenge, and it is as challenging in every respect.”
The first six World Cup races were disappointing, after his victory at the Sprint of China there was no good results for Hamilton. He is only seventh in the World Cup – two places behind his team -mate Charles Leclerc.
“There is still a lot of work ahead of us,” said Hamilton. Ferrari is currently only fourth strength behind McLaren, Mercedes and Red Bull.
For the seven-time world champion, who completed 362 races in Formula 1, a premiere is waiting in Imola this weekend: for the first time, he will drive a home race as a Ferrari pilot, and this is a great unknown for the British.
“I don’t know what to expect. I mean, I’ve been here all the years. I saw the Tifosi. I came on stage directly after the Ferrari drivers,” said Hamilton: “We saw the incredible support in all the different places we are on the road.”
He had “changed nothing” on his usual approach, he emphasized before the Grand Prize of the Emilia-Romagna on Sunday (3 p.m./Sky and RTL). “I would like to get good points for this team like every weekend. And I’m looking forward to seeing the red flags.”
For Ferrari, the race is not only important because of the proximity to the headquarters in Maranello – after a total disappointing start, positive results are needed. The races in Monaco and Barcelona will follow after Imola on the next two weekends.