Nigel Mansell calls it 'a dream come true' to see Lewis Hamilton achieve this at Ferrari
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Lewis Hamilton is set to join a select group of British drivers who have raced for Ferrari in Formula 1, becoming the 13th Briton to do so when he makes his debut in the Australian Grand Prix this March.
With the 2025 Formula 1 season now just weeks away, the excitement is building for the opening race in Melbourne, marking its return as the season opener for the first time since 2019. Hamilton has only triumphed in Australia twice, securing victories in 2008 and 2015.
In the most recent race held in Melbourne in 2019, Valtteri Bottas claimed victory, defeating pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton by a commanding 20.886 seconds for a Mercedes one-two finish. Bottas' famous "To whom it may concern" radio message following the race remains one of the most memorable moments in recent F1 history.
Now, the British driver will be hoping to repeat his success as he embarks on his Ferrari journey, making his highly anticipated debut at the Australian GP on March 16. After departing Mercedes in February last year, Hamilton signed a lucrative two-year contract with Ferrari worth up to £83 million annually. Following a year of farewells with the Silver Arrows, Lewis Hamilton is now fully immersed in the Ferrari team, having completed his first laps in their 2025 F1 car at Fiorano last Wednesday.
Hamilton will become the 13th British driver to race for Ferrari, and notably, the first full-time Briton to do so since Eddie Irvine in 2000. Nigel Mansell, a former Ferrari driver, has shared his enthusiasm for Hamilton's new chapter. Mansell, who raced for Ferrari during the 1989 and 1990 seasons before achieving his drivers' title with Williams in 1992, expressed that seeing Hamilton win on his Ferrari debut at the Albert Park circuit in Australia would be a "dream come true." For the former Ferrari driver, such a victory would set the perfect tone for Hamilton's new chapter with the Scuderia. Nigel Mansell mentioned to the Daily Mail that it would be a dream come true for Lewis to win the first race with Ferrari, as it would set the tone for the rest of the season.
The former Formula 1 driver expressed that it would be an incredibly fitting start to Hamilton’s Ferrari career if he were to win the Australian Grand Prix. He noted that Ferrari has had strong performances in Melbourne in recent years, with victories from Sebastian Vettel in 2017 and 2018, Charles Leclerc in 2022, and Carlos Sainz in 2024.
Mansell’s dream would only be further fulfilled if Hamilton were to secure an eighth drivers’ title with Ferrari. He believes it would be truly “magical” if the seven-time champion could bring Ferrari their first F1 drivers' championship since Kimi Raikkonen’s triumph in 2007, solidifying Hamilton’s legacy while reviving the Scuderia's winning streak.
The 71-year-old went on to say that Ferrari has been long overdue for both the drivers' and constructors' championships. He expressed his hope that with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, the team would finally achieve it. He added that it would be magical for Hamilton to win another world championship and wished him all the best in his pursuit.
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