Hamilton eager to win in red: 'Driven to achieve success'
F1 News
Switching teams in F1 is not as simple as it sounds. The intricacies of driving a new car, learning how to circumnavigate the distinct gateways of different racing cultures, which in Lewis Hamilton's case, involves learning how to speak a new language, and how to manoeuvre a highly traditionalistic environment such as Ferrari's, amongst other things. However, the seven-time world champion looks forward to the challenge and is fueled by the drive to achieve success.
Speaking to select media, including GPBlog, during the post-SF-25 shakedown press session, the seven-time world champion outlined the technical challenges ahead of his upcoming debut at Ferrari. "It's rare that you just jump in [a car] and it just fits. For example, the steering wheel is completely different. Everything, all the switch settings are completely different, the software is different, everything."
Hamilton's profound commitment to Ferrari
However, also in terms of driving, switching machinery in F1 presents its own challenge. "I am adapting to a car that's made quite differently to what I've worked with in the past to achieve a similar sort of thing (winning races and championships.) The feeling (between the Mercedes and Ferrari cars, ed.) is a lot different and I don't feel that currently I'm having to change my driving style too much. I'm actually feeling quite comfortable in the car and just taking one step at a time."
As far as the change in environment is concerned, it isn't any easier. "This step is huge," Hamilton revealed. "It couldn't be any bigger. The organization is massive. The passion adds to it from the fans, from Tifosi, from the people within, for that desire to want to win. And you don't want to let people down. You want to be able to deliver on your word," the passionate seven-time world champion adds.
Hamilton driven to win in red
The new Ferrari driver then shed light on his mental approach to the season ahead. "How I decided to come into this year, my resolution, my life, my mentality is like, ‘I need to elevate in absolutely every area on my side.' This is who I am and just got to gel in. I've got to elevate in every single [aspect]," before shedding light on what some of those areas are and the underlying motivation to improve on them.
"My fitness, my time management, how I engage my engineers, how much time I spend in the factory, all these different things. And I've definitely done that, and I'm doing that, and I will continue to do that in this drive to help to achieve the success that I'm aiming to achieve," concluded Hamilton.
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