Hamilton: I'm putting in every effort to prepare myself.

      A "motivated" Lewis Hamilton could indeed secure a record eighth world championship in 2025, during his first season with Ferrari at the age of 40. This perspective comes from Dr. Helmut Marko, a key figure at Red Bull, as Hamilton and his teammate Charles Leclerc commenced testing the new 2025 Ferrari at Fiorano.

      "It felt fine," Hamilton remarked, while Leclerc also informed Sky Italia, "There were no negative surprises." Although team principal Frederic Vasseur has acknowledged that the new red car is an "evolution" rather than the 99 percent new model he previously suggested, it currently stands as the only car in the field featuring pullrod suspension at both the front and rear.

      "We have reached a limit with the old concept," technical director Loic Serra conceded. "To give ourselves greater development flexibility, we had to move to pullrods." Hamilton observed Leclerc's debut with the ’25 Ferrari in the morning, but Leclerc did not return the favor later in the day. "I went to sleep because I returned from London at 4:30 AM, and by 7:30 AM I was already here for the first meeting. But I followed from a distance," he chuckled.

      Hamilton expressed that he is getting along well with his new teammate so far, although he anticipates "arguments" as the season progresses. "Charles is only 27, and he's likely more mature than I was at that age," the British driver acknowledged. "It won’t be easy to beat him, especially since it's already his home."

      However, he noted that when Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel joined Ferrari, they achieved almost immediate success. "I didn’t realize that, and it gives me even more respect for them," Hamilton admitted. "What I do know is that testing is more restricted than ever—just three days plus the 200km filming day, which we share. Unfortunately, I haven’t had enough time in the car yet and I'm still getting used to it. I remember it took me six months at Mercedes to get my first win. But I’m doing everything possible to be prepared for the first race," he added.

      Early reports indicate that the new car, the SF-25, is "around four tenths" quicker than its predecessor in the simulator. "That’s significant in a realm where thousandths matter," stated Corriere della Sera. This is despite the fact that the nose and front wing remain largely unchanged from 2024. "If the regulations are shifting, it makes sense to combine that with a development of the wing," Vasseur explained, alluding to the mid-season restrictions on front wing flexibility.

      It is believed that Serra, a recent addition from Mercedes, pushed for the pullrod alteration to address Ferrari’s tire wear issues. Dr. Marko from Red Bull believes that tires will play a crucial role in Hamilton's performance at Ferrari. "Hamilton needs to nail qualifying, and it was never his strong suit," he told Osterreich. "If he loses two or three tenths to Leclerc, he always has to fight his way up a few positions, which puts stress on the tires."

      Some speculate that Hamilton may struggle at Ferrari due to his age and the competitiveness of his settled teammate Leclerc. "I would be cautious about making that claim," Marko commented. "If Hamilton is motivated, he can pick up where he left off in 2021. The comeback he achieved back then was remarkable."