Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is getting used to the sight of Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari but he’s keen for his team to beat its newfound Formula 1 rival.

After 12 seasons, Wolff and Hamilton parted ways at the end of 2024 with the seven-time champion heading to Maranello to race for the famed Ferrari team.

It was an idea that Wolff has expressed finding difficult to get to grips with and anyone who has watched the most-recent series of Drive to Survive on Netflix will know Wolff couldn’t imagine Hamilton in red.

However, since January, Hamilton in red has been beamed into the global consciousness as the media has tracked the Briton’s every move with his new team.

As a result, Wolff has grown accustomed to the move, but he has firmly placed a target on his former charge.

“At first it was a strange thought how he would look after so many days in the Mercedes,” Wolff told OE24.

“But then he rode up in his red outfit and in the red car. In these fast-moving times, you quickly get used to it. Now it’s a normal image for me.”

Wolff gave his verdict on the iconic photo of Hamilton in a suit and tie in front of Ferrari headquarters in January, which became the most-liked F1-related image on Instagram of all-time.

“There was something iconic about him standing there in his Godfather outfit in a suit,” he said.

“I said to him: ‘I’ve been trying to get you into a suit for 12 years, and then you do it on your first day at Ferrari.’ We both laughed a lot.

“It’s not that bad,” Wolff said of the Hamilton split. 

“We are very good friends. On a personal level, I wish him all the best, but on the racetrack we want to beat him.”

Why Mercedes trusts Antonelli as Hamilton’s replacement

Of course, with Hamilton departing Mercedes a seat had to be filled at the Brackley-based outfit.

That seat has gone to 18-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli who Wolff has known since the Italian came onto the Mercedes radar at the age of 12.

Wolff admitted that once Hamilton announced his departure, it was time to trust Antonelli moving forward and the example Oliver Bearman set with Ferrari last year in Saudi Arabia emboldened that faith.

“Kimi was always in the pipeline, and we knew if Lewis were to stop one day, we would be going the Kimi way and trusting him,” Wolff said. 

“But when everybody saw the level of performance of Bearman in the Ferrari in Saudi Arabia, with basically missing out on the Friday, and then being exceptional, you kind of, I think many teams were saying, ‘oh, hold on a minute, where’s Bearman in F2, where’s he in F3, what has he done before,’ and the realisation came maybe the level of these young drivers is very high, actually.”

Antonelli has been fast-tracked to F1 in light of Hamilton’s departure as just two years ago, the Italian was racing in Formula Regional.

However, his title success in 2023 convinced Mercedes to propel Antonelli beyond FIA Formula 3 and into Formula 2 last year, and he became a race winner in his rookie season.

To prepare him sufficiently to help Wolff on his quest to beat Hamilton and Ferrari, Antonelli underwent a programme of approximately 9000 kilometres in old Mercedes F1 cars before pre-season testing.

READ MORE – Toto Wolff: Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari like ‘seeing your divorced partner with a new friend’

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The future of Formula 1 could see the return of V10 engines and Lewis Hamilton is the latest to advocate his approval for the change.

Discussions over reverting back to the V10 era were sparked by the FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

He suggested that F1 should at least consider the idea of running the popular engines on sustainable fuels in the future.

For 2026, there is a huge regulation overhaul, which includes changes to the engine regulations.

F1 will transition to using 100% sustainable fuel as part of its goal to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by the year 2030.

Additionally, the series plans to implement a nearly 50/50 split between the power output from the engine and the MGU-K electric motor.

Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner offered his support for the return of engines last used back in 2005.

Horner revealed how he would love to go back to ‘the sound of grand prix racing’ with the use of V10 engines.

Hamilton has recently added his thoughts on the matter at a Ferrari event in Milan, as he agreed with the Red Bull chief’s opinion.

“I hope that in 20 years we’ll have great races and we’ll have cars that sound good,” Hamilton said.

“I certainly hope it’s not completely electric, but sustainable with V10 or V12 engines, with a zero carbon footprint or something like that.”

FIA to further explore the return of V10s, reports say

After Ben Sulayem signalled his intentions to contemplate using V10s once again in the sport, rumours started to circulate that the FIA had taken action towards the idea.

A spokesperson for the governing body confirmed that a working group was being set up to discuss the concept further.

A statement read: “We are engaged in discussions with a number of stakeholders to determine the future technical direction of F1 beyond the 2026 regulatory cycle.

“A V10 power train running on sustainable fuel would be part of those considerations which would be tied to environmental and cost-containment measures.

“We need to consider the appropriate technical path for the sport.

“While we are fully focussed on the introduction of the 2026 regulations, and the prospect of the competitive racing they will bring, we also need to keep an eye on the future.

“The intention is to establish a working group whose brief it would be to explore all possibilities.”

There has still been no official confirmation from the FIA as of late, yet the hype train behind the return of V10s is steadily gaining traction, with the seven-time World Champion being the latest to join the fight.

READ MORE: Toto Wolff: F1 ‘at risk of diluted messaging’ with ‘premature’ V10 engine revival talk

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Ferrari Formula 1 boss Fred Vasseur has backed Lewis Hamilton’s arrival at the team to be advantageous to Charles Leclerc as it will alleviate the pressure on him.

Hamilton’s name has been plastered across the sporting headlines in the lead-up to this season as he prepares to embark on a new chapter in his decorated career with Ferrari.

The seven-time F1 champion’s strive to claim a record eighth Drivers’ title has seen him slot in alongside Leclerc, who is now entering his seventh season with the team.

Leclerc admitted that the intense spotlight on his team-mate across the winter has provided a unique experience at Ferrari as he has been allowed to go under the radar

“For me, that meant that the off-season was a bit more in the shadow, but I enjoyed it,” Leclerc told media including Motorsport Week in Bahrain during pre-season testing.

“I focused on myself, I’m pushing at the maximum to be ready for the first race and I’m really looking forward to this year. I’m hoping that we’ll start the year in a more positive way.”

Vasseur believes Hamilton’s presence will relieve the burden on Leclerc at Ferrari, which he suspects will have a positive impact on him in the upcoming campaign.

“From the first day I started talking to Lewis, I was convinced it would be beneficial for Charles, because it would take some of the pressure off him,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“And then, after four years alongside Carlos [Sainz], the best way to learn was to have a new team-mate.”

Hamilton and Leclerc will push Ferrari ‘to its limits’

Vasseur is convinced that the close intra-team competition that is anticipated between his two drivers will be a boost to Ferrari’s ambitions rather than a hindrance.

“What do Leclerc and Hamilton have in common? They wear the same uniform,” Vasseur remarked.

“They both have a champion mentality, they are enthusiastic and demanding.

“They push the team to its limits, we need this kind of internal competition. It’s a process of emulation, performance comes from comparison.”

Ferrari convinced it has title-winning pairing

Ferrari harbours hope that Hamilton’s vast title-winning pedigree will provide the added ingredient that helps the Italian marque to end its championship drought since 2008.

But while he is certain the Hamilton and Leclerc combination can deliver the ultimate prize, Vasseur has acknowledged that will depend on the equipment at their disposal.

“I don’t want to venture into predictions,” he said. “We have two top drivers, they have shown that they can win races and championships.

“I hope they win a lot of races, then in the second half of the championship we will see where we are for the World Championship.”

READ MORE – Lewis Hamilton names detail that will make Charles Leclerc ‘not easy to beat’ at Ferrari

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Former Mercedes motorsport boss Norbert Haug has backed Lewis Hamilton to retrieve the “stolen” eighth Formula 1 he lost in 2021 during his stint with Ferrari.

With pre-season testing done and dusted, the F1 paddock is preparing to head to Australia next week to commence a 24-round calendar, Hamilton’s first with Ferrari.

The seven-time World Champion Hamilton, who left the Silver Arrows after 12 seasons together, will make his eagerly anticipated debut in red on the streets of Melbourne.

Haug, the erstwhile head of Mercedes’ motorsport activities, was involved in the British driver’s rise in the sport through the original McLaren-Mercedes engine partnership.

Toto Wolff, the current Mercedes team boss and CEO, replaced Haug once the 2012 season ended, but he was reacquainted with Hamilton at the driver’s farewell tour.

“It’s actually very sad for me, I have to say,” he told Sky Germany.

“I would never have thought that Lewis would switch again.

“I’ve really known him since he was 14 years old; there really is still a great relationship.

“I hadn’t seen him for years…and I don’t know.

“When you’ve worked with people, with racing drivers, for so long, it’s like the first day, as if the last meeting was yesterday.”

Haug blasts ‘wrong decision’ that cost Hamilton ‘21 title

But although Haug was disappointed to see Hamilton depart Mercedes, he has backed him to secure an elusive record-breaking eighth Drivers’ title at Ferrari.

“Anyone who thinks that he will give up at 40 and step on the gas less and work less intensively will be wrong,” he added.

“He will give everything [at Ferrari].

“I absolutely trust him to deliver the maximum possible performance in the race.

“And if the car is good, why shouldn’t it work out with the eighth title?”

But the ever-lasting painful memories from 2021 still haunt Haug, as he explained the knock-on effect that season had on the team afterwards.

“The last few years [have been difficult] since the title we lost in 2021,” he said.

“And that really was a stolen title – there’s no other way to put it – due to the wrong Safety Car decision at the time, but there was a demolition after that.

“The car and the team that preceded it suffered many setbacks, including last year.

“The victories that did come were some at low temperatures.”

The W16 took the track in Bahrain last week for testing, and Haug was asked about Mercedes’ chances in 2025.

He replied: “I think we are, as you know, just as good as we were in the last race.”

READ MORE: George Russell: Mercedes ‘looking forwards, not backwards’ without Lewis Hamilton

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Lewis Hamilton has revealed that he is seeking to “find an Italian word” to replace his famous ‘hammer time’ radio messages ahead of his Formula 1 debut with Ferrari.

The message was often relayed to him by his race engineer at Mercedes, Peter Bonnington, to encourage the seven-time champion to push at a key moment in a race.

The phrase became a synonymous aspect of Hamilton’s long-serving relationship with Bonnington, who he affectionately dubbed ‘Bono’.

But the Briton has hinted that he will have to discover a new word or term to convey the same instruction with his Ferrari engineer Riccardo Adami.

“I haven’t spoken to my engineer about that,” Hamilton said.

“I don’t know how it would sound with an Italian accent, so I’ll have to find an Italian word, probably. We’ll probably find something new.”

Hamilton reveals notes to follow Italian engineers

Hamilton – like Ferrari’s last two British drivers, Eddie Irvine and Nigel Mansell – has been learning Italian as he builds his working relationship with the Maranello-based squad.

The newfound language barrier and the change to a new team – after 12 seasons with Mercedes – has given Hamilton a fresh task of deciphering technical jargon in a new language.

But showing a lack of deterrence to this particular issue, Hamilton revealed how he has been compensating so far.

“The effect is slightly different and the names they have are different,” he said. “’Anti-roll bar’ is still ‘anti-roll bar’.

“Some of the other parts of the geometry, there are different words for it.

“I’ve got it on my computer and I’m studying it each day and night to make sure I understand when they talk about these different components.

“I’ve done 12 years in another place where we talked about the same thing all the time.

“So I was used to it, I knew exactly what they were meaning. “But every time they [Ferrari] mention [something] in a debrief I’m like: ‘What part is this? Okay, it’s this part.’

“It’s part of the learning process and that’s what makes it exciting, because it’s all new.”

READ MORE – Fred Vasseur reveals when initial talk with Lewis Hamilton over Ferrari F1 move took place

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Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur has revealed that his initial conversation with Lewis Hamilton regarding a move to the team took place at the 2023 Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix.

Hamilton appeared destined to end his illustrious career with Mercedes when it was announced in September 2023 that he had penned a multi-term renewal with the team.

However, that all changed several months later when, prior to the 2024 season even starting, the bombshell news that Hamilton was going to Ferrari grabbed the headlines.

The Italian marque utilised the break clause inserted into Hamilton’s Mercedes deal to entice the seven-time F1 champion, who is partnering Ferrari protege Charles Leclerc.

There had been rumblings that Vasseur was interested in signing Hamilton months into his Ferrari reign, prompting both parties to quash a report about a purported proposal.

That came in the build-up to that season’s Monaco GP, but Vasseur has now divulged how that weekend did see him reach out to the Briton to discover his interest in a move.

“We both started talking about it at the Monaco GP 2023, on May 28, my birthday to be precise,” Vasseur told AutoHebdo. “I quickly realised that it could happen.

“I knew that the desire was there on his side, that it had always been there in fact. It wasn’t possible on our side for 2024, because we had both our drivers under contract.

“Lewis had always had Ferrari in the back of his mind, and I thought the planets were aligning. For me, having Lewis with Charles was one more stone in the edifice.”

Hamilton was ‘shaking’ when Ferrari call came

There had long been rumours connecting Hamilton to Ferrari, but his success with Mercedes ensured his dream to race in red looked consigned to an alternative universe.

But amid the German marque’s competitive decline and Ferrari holding a vacant seat, Vasseur, who knew about the loophole in Hamilton’s deal, opened the door to Ferrari.

Hamilton expressed how he had been resigned to never representing Ferrari until Vasseur contacted him with the call over the winter in 2023 which left him shell-shocked.

“If I’m really honest, I had accepted the fact that I’m probably not going to drive for Ferrari,” he told TIME. “I was OK with that.”

“I remember getting off the phone and, like, almost shaking. I was like, ‘Oh God!’”

“I was like, ‘Holy s**t’. I literally just signed with Mercedes.

“It was a lot to take in, and my emotions were really high So I honestly had to go for a walk My eyes felt really calm and present. This is the right thing for me.”

READ MORE – Lewis Hamilton reveals ‘refreshing’ aspect to Ferrari F1 venture

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Lewis Hamilton has celebrated what is an “exciting” reunion with former trainer Angela Cullen as he prepares to kickstart his first Formula 1 season with Ferrari.

Hamilton and the New Zealander have enjoyed a long working relationship which started back in 2016, when Cullen became his physiotherapist and assistant.

Their friendship blossomed as a result, and Cullen, in addition, performed other tasks, including being seen in the paddock looking after Hamilton’s dog, Roscoe.

However, the duo split two races into the 2022 campaign without explanation, with Cullen moving Stateside to work in IndyCar with countryman Marcus Armstrong.

But having spent time elsewhere, Cullen accepted Hamilton’s request to reunite with him at Ferrari and she was spotted in red during pre-season testing in Bahrain.

“It’s always important to have a good foundation of people around you,” the seven-time World Champion told Sky F1.

“I’ve generally had a very good base for many, many years. So, I still have all the team that I had last year, but I’ve brought Ange [Angela] in on top of that.

“We have a great relationship, me and Ange.

“We’ve known each other for a long, long time, we’ve gone through a lot together, and she took a couple of years out and she spent time with her family, discovering the world.

“And asking her to come and start this new chapter with me, and her accepting it, was really exciting.

“And we’ve been having a blast. This past month together has been really awesome.”

Hamilton has been hard at work since beginning his new venture with Ferrari in January, conducting several outings in previous-spec cars prior to testing the SF-25 in Bahrain.

The Briton’s much-anticipated race weekend debut with the Maranello-based squad is closing in, with the season-opening Australian Grand Prix being held from 14-16 March.

READ MORE – Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton claims he could race in F1 ‘until I’m 50’

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Lewis Hamilton expressed that it has been a “refreshing” experience learning new car characteristics at Ferrari compared to what he’s been used to at Mercedes in Formula 1.

With the sole pre-season test done and dusted, Hamilton has turned his last laps in a Ferrari prior to conducting his anticipated debut with the team in Australia this month.

The Briton, who revealed that the move has revitalised him, was in positive spirits as he claimed that Ferrari’s SF-25 has provided his best driving experience in a long while.

One aspect he has had to adapt to in his Ferrari outings to date has been the Italian marque’s engine, having driven a Mercedes power unit in his F1 career up until this point.

However, Hamilton, now 40, has admitted that he has relished having new challenges to overcome as he bids to hit the ground running with the Maranello-based squad.

When asked how it has been driving a Ferrari, Hamilton told media Motorsport Week: “Well firstly, they’re very well built, and massively different in characteristics.

“But rather than just jump into a different car and having it exactly the same, it’s been refreshing to have something different, to learn different ways in which you have to drive the car, different requirements to how you approach corners.

“The engine has a different tone, a different feel, different drivability, and I’ve been driving Mercedes for so long, which was such a great power unit, and it’s great to see that Ferrari also have a great power unit.

“And it’s something that I’m, again, spending time with the engineers from the engine department and learning of the processes they take to for reliability and power.

“That’s a process in itself, but so far it’s been really great.”

Hamilton completed 162 laps during his time in the SF-25 at testing, 58 fewer than team-mate Charles Leclerc as a minor issue spelt a premature end to his spell in the car.

The seven-time F1 champion conceded that the Italian marque has “work to do” amid McLaren’s impressive pace, but he insisted he was beginning to “bond” with the SF-25.

Hamilton’s outlook represents a complete contrast to the comments made during his final campaign with Mercedes in 2024 when he struggled to gel with a capricious W15.

READ MORE – Lewis Hamilton assesses main rivals to record eighth F1 title in 2025

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The seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton insists “the old man is a state of mind” amidst criticism towards Ferrari for signing the 40-year-old.

Hamilton turned 40 last month as he prepares to enter the 19th season of his F1 career with the Maranello-based squad.

The British driver left after 12 seasons with Mercedes, in which he won six World Championships between 2014 and 2021.

Turning his attention to the upcoming 2025 season, he recently spoke about the criticism Ferrari has faced for signing a driver of his age.

“The old man is a state of mind,” Hamilton remarked in an interview with Time magazine.

“Of course your body ages but I’m never going to be an old man.”

Whilst his focus will be on his first full season with Ferrari, Hamilton has been working on several different projects, including the upcoming ‘F1’ movie.

But he has no intention of calling it quits, as he went on to reveal: “What I can tell you is, retirement is nowhere on my radar. I could be here until I’m 50, who knows.”

‘You can’t compare me to another 40-year-old’, insists Hamilton

Last season, Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff claimed that “everyone has a shelf life” in a book about the German marque published in November.

The Austrian’s comments caused a commotion, which he denied was a reference to Hamilton, who took no issue with his erstwhile boss’ remark.

However, Hamilton went on to stress the scale of his legacy in F1 and how there aren’t many drivers like him at his age.

“Don’t ever compare me to anybody else; I’m the first and only Black driver that’s ever been in this sport,” he stated.

“I’m built different; I’ve been through a lot.

“I’ve had my own journey.

“You can’t compare me to another 40-year-old, past or present, Formula One driver in history – because they are nothing like me.

“I’m hungry, driven, [I] don’t have a wife and kids – I’m focused on one thing, and that’s winning.

“That’s my No. 1 priority.”

Hamilton chooses to ignore criticism from ‘older, white men’

One of the voices of the racing community who blasted Ferrari for signing Hamilton was ex-F1 team owner Eddie Jordan.

Jordan, on his Formula For Success podcast, expressed how he felt it was “absolutely suicidal” for Ferrari to drop Carlos Sainz from its driver lineup for 2025.

Speaking of the critics, including the Irishman, Hamilton said he lets his performances on the track do the talking as he chooses to ignore the opinions of such people.

“I’ve always welcomed the negativity,” says Hamilton.

“I never, ever reply to any of the older, ultimately, white men who have commented on my career and what they think I should be doing.

“How you show up, how you present yourself, how you perform slowly dispels that.”

The Ferrari racing driver set the fastest lap on day two of pre-season testing, in the morning session.

After testing in Bahrain, F1 heads to Australia for the opening round of the 2025 season, with the first practice session set for 14 March.

READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton fastest on second morning of 2025 F1 pre-season testing

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Lewis Hamilton hailed the impact TPC running has had on his Formula 1 adaptation with Ferrari during pre-season testing in Bahrain.

Before arriving in Bahrain for F1’s official pre-season testing, Hamilton sampled the Ferrari SF-23 and SF-24 in late January and early February.

The seven-time F1 champion split driving in 2023’s SF-23 at Fiorano, conducting a Testing of Previous Car programme. 

Hamilton later drove a modified SF-24 during a Pirelli tyre test and he admitted that having this running ahead of the limited three-day test was a big benefit.

“I think what I’ve really enjoyed is the testing that I’ve had this year,” Hamilton told select media including Motorsport Week. 

“It was super great, the TPC testing that we did,” he said. 

“Fortunately, if I’d only had this day and a half, I don’t think I’d be in the position I’m in now in terms of how comfortable I feel with the car. 

“It’s still some ways to go. At this point in time, there’s always time to get better.

“I still feel there’s plenty to come. But as I said, I’ve fortunately had time in the 2023 and ‘24 car and so I’m really glad to compare to the 2024 and ‘23 car and see where they’ve progressed into this one. 

“Also, I didn’t get to do the test at the end of the year, so, for me, it started relatively late compared to others.”

With just a day and a half of running across the three-day test, Hamilton can thank his TPC programmes for helping him gel with his new employer.

Ferrari ‘trying to improve’ – Hamilton

Hamilton’s comfort at Ferrari could largely depend on where the Scuderia stacks up against the competition.

Speaking ahead of his final run on Friday, Hamilton spoke more about the competition, picking McLaren as potential favourites.

“Obviously it’s a lot hotter today but McLaren did a great job yesterday,” he said. 

“I think also Max [Verstappen] did a decent run today. 

“So, again, it’s hard to know what fuel loads everyone is running. We’re all doing our own programmes, so we have to take everything with a pinch of salt. 

“But, you know, [McLaren] being the Constructors’ champions last year, we expect them to be one of the quickest, if not the quickest. As with Red Bull, who have dominated for many, many years. 

“So, for us, we’re just trying to improve. I haven’t done the [race simulation] run yet, I’m about to do it this afternoon, and it will give a bit of a better understanding of how this car behaves in a race stint. 

“It’s going to be my first race stint with the team. I’ve only done short [runs], about 10 laps, so it’ll be interesting. We’ve definitely got some work to do to improve.”

READ MORE – Lewis Hamilton: Ferrari SF-25 providing ‘the most positive feeling I’ve had in a long time’

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