Formula 1 chief executive officer Stefano Domenicali has ignited excitement with a confident prediction: Lewis Hamilton, despite a rocky debut with Ferrari, will claim a victory this season with the Scuderia.
At the Australian Grand Prix last weekend, Domenicali shared his optimism about the seven-time world champion’s new chapter with his new team.
Hamilton’s move to Ferrari, announced in early 2024, has been one of the sport’s biggest talking points, and Domenicali believes the Briton’s relentless drive could soon pay dividends – even after a challenging maiden race in Melbourne.
A New Journey Begins in Melbourne
Hamilton’s transition to Ferrari has been marked by dedication and immersion. The 40-year-old has embraced Italian culture, the team’s processes, and even the language, going so far as to park a motorhome in Maranello near Enzo Ferrari’s historic farmhouse-turned-office.
His first taste of action came last weekend at Albert Park, but it was far from the dream debut he’d hoped for.
A strategy misstep in wet conditions saw him finish a distant 10th, two places behind teammate Charles Leclerc, who also struggled to eighth. It was a downbeat start for a driver chasing an unprecedented eighth world title.
“I felt like I was in the deep end today – just everything is new,” admitted Hamilton, speaking after the race to Sky Sports F1.
“From the first time I was driving this car in the rain, the car was behaving a lot different to what I’ve experienced in the past, the power unit, all the steering functions - all the things are thrown to you and you’re trying to juggle them.”
The Briton reckoned that a lack of communication compounded his woes.
“Unfortunately at the end they said it was just a short shower and the rest of the track was dry so I was like, ‘I’m gonna stick it out as long as I can. I can keep it on the track’, Hamilton said.
“They didn’t say more was coming, so then all of a sudden more came, so I think it was just lacking that bit of information at the end.”
Domenicali Sees a Champion’s Fire
Despite the Melbourne stumble, Domenicali remains unshaken in his belief in Hamilton. Drawing on his own experience as Ferrari’s former team principal, he praised the driver’s commitment and predicted a triumphant turnaround.
“For sure for Lewis it’s a new journey, a new journey that will give him a lot of boost, a lot of energy,” Domenicali told Formula1.com.
“I think that the adjustment that he has to do, not only on the driving side with the car but also in terms of integrating himself in a different community, will be easy.
©Ferrari
The Italian highlighted Hamilton’s all-in approach as a key factor.
“When you have inside the right fire to make sure that this experience will be positive, you’re going to dedicate yourself night and day, and that’s what he’s doing.
“He told me that he’s sleeping in Maranello, he told me he has seen what Ferrari means for the people of Italy,” he said.
That passion, Domenicali believes, will fuel Hamilton’s success as he adapts to life in red.
A Win on the Horizon?
When pressed on whether Hamilton could secure a win in his debut Ferrari season, Domenicali didn’t hesitate.
“I think so, I think it will be great, I have to say, with my independent cap! I think it will be good for the team, good for Charles [Leclerc] to keep pushing himself and it will be good for the entire field of F1 teams,” he declared.
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His optimism hinges on Hamilton’s ability to harness Ferrari’s potential and overcome early hurdles, a prospect that could shake up the 2025 season and thrill fans worldwide.
Hamilton’s initial joy at testing the Ferrari on the iconic Fiorano track—“one of the best feelings of my life,” he called it—hasn’t yet translated to race-day success.
But Domenicali’s faith suggests the Melbourne setback is merely a bump in the road for a driver whose hunger remains undimmed.
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