Lewis Hamilton is experiencing a way of déjà vu as he prepares for his extremely anticipated Ferrari debut on the Australian Grand Prix subsequent week on the 5.278-kilometre Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit in Melbourne, a sense that takes him again to his first-ever Method 1 race with McLaren in Melbourne again in 2007.
Because the seven-time Method 1 world champion and probably the most profitable driver within the sport’s historical past—boasting a formidable 105 Grand Prix wins and 202 podium finishes— the British driver admitted that the thrill surrounding this new chapter in his profession is steadily rising. Talking at a Ferrari partner Puma occasion on Tuesday evening, he shared how the anticipation of his first race in purple is evoking recollections of his rookie season, making the buildup to Melbourne much more particular.
In a current interview for Reuters, the 40-year-old Briton remarked that whereas the winter had felt lengthy, it had additionally handed shortly. The previous Mercedes man expressed gratitude for the profitable testing that they had the earlier week. He admitted that he might hardly imagine the race was already occurring subsequent week and anticipated the truth to sink in because the weekend approached. He shared his pleasure, stating that the group was as well-prepared as doable given the restricted time he needed to modify. Whereas acknowledging that there have been nonetheless issues to study, he emphasised his eagerness to get began. The British driver added that he cherished racing and that being in Melbourne would strongly remind him of his first Grand Prix there.
Lewis Hamilton’s pursuit of a record-breaking eighth Method 1 title with Ferrari—the game’s most iconic and prestigious group—has dominated headlines worldwide. His arrival in Maranello marks one of many largest storylines of the season, but it surely isn’t the primary time he has made a high-profile debut. Again in 2007, the British driver burst onto the scene with a exceptional rookie efficiency for McLaren, securing a formidable third-place end in his very first Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton went on to attain a spectacular begin to his Method 1 profession, ending on the rostrum in every of his first 9 races. He secured two victories and concluded the season as the general runner-up, narrowly lacking out on the title to Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen. Within the following 12 months, Hamilton clinched his first-ever Method 1 World Championship, marking the start of a legendary profession. Even now, as he prepares to race for Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton confessed that he nonetheless finds it laborious to imagine he’s a driver for the enduring Scuderia, a group he as soon as considered from the surface as a fierce competitor.
The Briton defined that subsequent week, when he arrived on the race, he could be beginning a Grand Prix driving for the Maranello group, and he was in awe of the second. He admitted that he was struggling to search out the phrases to precise simply how excited he felt. Whereas attempting to remain calm and composed, he acknowledged that arriving in Melbourne as a Ferrari driver would undoubtedly be an thrilling expertise.