Ferrari and the Hamilton effect: the team presents the new car, but only talks about the “great transition” of Formula 1

You can hear the noise of the engines because Formula 1 is in full countdown towards the 2024 season. From the 21st to the 23rd the official tests will be in Sakhir, Bahrain, where The first of 24 Grands Prix will take place on March 2nd which will become the racing record for one year in the top category of world motorsport. Each team presented its new model and Ferrari was no exception in a well-protocoled ceremony in Maranello, with hundreds of thousands of fans following the event via streaming. The curious thing is that beyond the white and yellow line that the red car will show, all the attention was not focused on next season but on 2025. Total normality. The signing of Lewis Hamilton after 12 years at Mercedes has multiplied the adrenaline in Italy.

Only specialized media and “iron” enthusiasts were more interested in the scant news about the SF-24. All attention was focused on the arrival of the English for next season. After all, Ferrari hasn’t won a constructors’ championship since 2008 and the Scuderia’s last champion driver was Kimi Raikkonen in 2007.

“Lewis’ arrival in 2025 represents a great opportunity for the Italian team. We are sure that this will allow us to overcome a good stage in the future and that it will be a good challenge for everyone,” said Frenchman Frédéric Vasseur, team leader. “We have maintained good relations for more than 20 years, we have always been in contact to talk and this has been done in a natural way,” he added regarding the negotiations with the seven-time Formula 1 champion.

Vasseur was careful to highlight that Hamilton’s choice “has nothing to do” with the level of Spaniard Carlos Sainz, who will leave Ferrari in 2025. “But we have to take into account that (Hamilton) has the best track record in grilling , is the one with the most experience and for us it is a great opportunity,” he confirmed.

Sainz and his teammate Charles Leclerc did not shy away from questions about next season, which overshadowed the presentation of the new model.

“No one in the world of Formula 1 expected it and I didn’t expect it either,” clarified the Spaniard. It’s no secret that it was a surprise to everyone. It is true that I was able to inform myself a little in advance and prepare myself emotionally and psychologically for what I knew would be announced. These are things of life. One door is closing, but many will open, so I can’t wait to see what the future holds,” Sainz said.

Leclerc explained that he knew he would be Hamilton’s teammate next season before signing his “multi-year” renewal with Ferrari, which was announced at the end of January. And he took on board his words: “These types of agreements are not signed overnight. It takes time and I knew they were negotiating even before signing the contract. For this reason I was not surprised by the news, but I would not like to go into details out of respect for Carlos, with whom we shared several years.”

The Monegasque has always claimed to be Ferrari’s number one driver and in several races he also argued with Sainz. Now he knows that Hamilton’s experience can help him or overshadow him. “Obviously Lewis is an incredible driver. He is the most successful driver in history (103 Grands Prix) and has a lot of experience to contribute to me and the team. I spoke to him after they announced the deal. “It will be interesting to be a teammate of someone who was a seven-time world champion,” he said diplomatically.

What does Ferrari have to offer so far this season? Leclerc is the fifth driver to have contested the most races with the Scuderia: 102 in five years. He has won five Grands Prix: Belgium and Italy in 2019 and Bahrain, Australia and Austria in 2022, when he finished second in the championship. With the red one he obtained 23 pole positions, the same as the legendary Niki Lauda, ​​obviously far from Michael Schumacher’s 58. And it has risen to 30 podiums, six of them last year, with two second places and two third places.

“I won’t settle for two or three wins this year because I want to win as much as possible. My greatest desire is to bring many joys and victories to our fans”, confessed the Monegasque.

Sainz raced 65 Grands Prix with the red car and achieved two victories: Great Britain 2022 and Singapore 2023. He achieved five pole positions and achieved 15 podiums. “I feel privileged to be part of Ferrari and I have a whole year ahead of me in this emblematic team. Once you’re a Ferrari driver, you’re a Ferrari driver forever. I will leave at the end of the year knowing that I have done my homework,” summed up the Spaniard.

Engine noise can be heard in Formula 1. Ferrari prepares with its new model. But everyone is thinking about 2025 with Lewis Hamilton dressed in red