Lewis Hamilton admits: "I thought I had lost the right opportunity to join Ferrari"

Lewis Hamilton’s debut at Ferrari is the result of a chance that Formula 1 appeared unwilling to offer him anymore. The Brit reflects on his arrival in Maranello, a dream that had always been present but never truly tangible. Now, the focus is on the track and maximizing the potential of the SF-25, the car Ferrari is going all-in on: "It's the most exciting moment ever."

Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari—two parallel lines that seemed destined never to meet. An impossible union, with the Brit fully integrated into the Mercedes orbit since his McLaren days. Time marches on, years pass, and as life progresses, doors tend to close. Just over twelve months ago, it was easy to imagine #44 staying in Brackley until the end of his career.

But life also brings unexpected surprises. Opportunities that seemed lost, even gone forever, sometimes come back. And when they do, it's imperative to seize them. Signing with Maranello is a long-awaited dream come true for Hamilton—a moment he had silently wished for and one that, after the past difficult seasons, provides a much-needed (and perhaps final) breath of fresh air in a legendary career.

Lewis Hamilton: "I always hoped to come to Ferrari"
During a long media session, Lewis Hamilton shared his thoughts with Channel 4 UK:
"I don't think there was necessarily a turning point [that led me to Ferrari]. I mean, at the back of my mind, there was always the hope that, you know, it would be great to have this opportunity if I was lucky enough in my career."

"Of course, at this stage of my career, I thought maybe that opportunity had passed, that the stars, unfortunately, would never align. But they did, at the right moment, and I really needed it. I was excited about it. I feel reinvigorated, like I have this fresh breath of air in my lungs and a new energy in the way I'm working."

"It's a real challenge to work with an entirely new team, to get used to the Italian culture, to adapt to a level of passion that cannot even be described in words, and to be part of such an iconic brand when you look at its history. Knowing that I am finally here and will be part of that history in the future is the most exciting thing—it's the most thrilling moment ever."

When will the Bahrain F1 tests begin?
The next event for Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton will be the Bahrain tests. Formula 1 will meet in Sakhir from February 26 to 28, with three days of testing split into two sessions: one from 08:00 to 12:00 and another from 13:00 to 17:00