Hamilton like Alonso and Vettel in their first year at Ferrari? "It took me six months at Mercedes…"
Today at 10:48 AM
He has been the main topic of discussion throughout 2024. He continues to be talked about and will remain a central figure for much of the new Formula 1 season. Hamilton and Ferrari represent a perfect combination, one that everyone hoped for but no one truly expected to happen. As the first Grand Prix of the season approaches, set for March 16 in Australia, the question arises: could Hamilton achieve what Alonso and Vettel did in their first year at Ferrari?
Expectations are high. A lot is expected from him. For the first time in years, one of the most decorated drivers in Formula 1 history, with seven world titles—equaling Michael Schumacher—returns to drive for one of the sport's most iconic teams. Fans around the world are beginning to dream: a return to the top of Formula 1 after nearly two decades, with Lewis Hamilton leading the charge.
But things are very different. Despite his vast experience, the British driver will have to adapt to a completely different car from the one he drove for eleven years. Everything has changed for the #44: new team, new race engineer, new engine, and a completely different project compared to Mercedes.
Looking back, many will remember two drivers who, as soon as they got into a Ferrari, immediately found themselves at ease and won races right away. First, in 2010, that driver was Fernando Alonso. The Spaniard arrived after two difficult years with Renault following the McLaren controversy, but his debut was unforgettable.
In the season opener in Bahrain, Alonso put Ferrari back on the top step of the podium, where it had been absent since the 2009 Belgian Grand Prix. Fans immediately embraced their new driver. The same thing happened with another world champion, Sebastian Vettel. After joining Maranello in 2015, he won at the second race in Sepang. Such quick adaptation to a new team has been seen only a few times in the sport.
Can Lewis Hamilton replicate that success? "I don't know," Lewis Hamilton told Motorsport Week. "Those two guys did an incredible job. I have immense respect for both of them because, when you join a new team, the work required to settle in is immense, and achieving those results makes it even more remarkable." – the British driver pointed out.
"Now, unfortunately, testing is much more limited, but despite that, I have spent a lot of time in the car and am continuing to adapt. It took me six months to get my first win with Mercedes, but I'm doing everything I can to be ready from the first race."
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