Lewis Hamilton has shed extra particulars about the important thing cellphone name which initiated his transfer to Ferrari.
After three days of F1 pre-season testing in Bahrain, Hamilton has additional acclimatised to his SF-25.
Ferrari, final 12 months’s runners-up within the constructors’ championship, helped each Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc to grand prix wins in 2024.
They hope to ship Hamilton a automobile able to profitable his eighth drivers’ title in 2025.
Though Hamilton spoke to Ferrari president John Elkann way back to 2018, he admitted to conceding he would by no means drive for Ferrari by 2020.
However a cellphone name, when Hamilton was in his Colorado house in December 2023, modified every little thing.
Ferrari workforce principal Fred Vasseur, who had labored with Hamilton when he was a junior driver, had acquired wind of a clause within the star’s newest Mercedes contract which may tempt him away.
Vasseur requested Hamilton on the cellphone to affix Ferrari.
Lewis Hamilton recounts key Ferrari name
“I bear in mind getting off the cellphone and, like, virtually shaking,” Hamilton informed TIME.
“I used to be like, Oh God!”
Hamilton claimed that he and his good friend sat on the toilet ground in a state of shock after the cellphone name.
“I used to be like, Holy sh-t,” mentioned Hamilton. “I actually simply signed with Mercedes.
“It was lots to soak up, and my feelings have been actually excessive. So I actually needed to go for a stroll.”
Hamilton first walked for an hour to assume. He then spent a number of days meditating.
“My eyes felt actually calm and current,” Hamilton mirrored.
“That is the best factor for me.”
He added about shifting groups: “You possibly can’t stand nonetheless for too lengthy.
“I wanted to throw myself into one thing uncomfortable once more.
“Truthfully, I assumed all my firsts have been carried out. Your first automobile, your first crash, your first date, first day of college.
“The thrill I acquired by the concept of, ‘That is my first time within the crimson swimsuit, the primary time within the Ferrari.’
“Wow. Truthfully, I’ve by no means been so excited.”
Lewis Hamilton on Mercedes’ future
Hamilton informed his long-time Mercedes colleagues that he was leaving throughout a workforce bonding paintball outing.
Hamilton admitted that, though they have been supportive, he took a battering within the subsequent paintballing recreation.
“There is no such thing as a dangerous blood,” Hamilton confirmed.
“Completely not. We received so many championships.”
He mentioned about his former workforce: “They’ve all of the substances to win world championships, and they’re going to win extra world championships. I’ve little doubt.”
George Russell has turn into Mercedes’ senior driver in 2025.
Final 12 months, Russell comprehensively out-qualified Hamilton in a severe assertion of his potential.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, feted by Toto Wolff as an enormous star of the long run, has changed Hamilton.
Mercedes hope that their W16 has ironed out most of the issues confronted by Hamilton final 12 months.
