Lewis Hamilton has expressed that Ferrari’s uptick in competitiveness has given him encouragement ahead of his impending switch to the team in Formula 1 in 2025.
The bombshell news broke prior to the current season starting that Hamilton will end his long association with Mercedes to make a much-anticipated move to Ferrari.
Hamilton’s change seems to be well-timed based on recent events as, while Mercedes has struggled with updates, Ferrari has emerged as a championship contender.
Ferrari’s successive victories in the United States and Mexico have moved it above Red Bull and into second place behind McLaren in the Constructors’ Championship.
The Italian marque has gone into this weekend’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix needing to overturn a 29-point gap to McLaren in four rounds to secure its first title since 2008.
Hamilton, who will be striving to win a record eighth Drivers’ Championship in red, has admitted that he has been observing Ferrari’s progress from a distance in 2024.
“I’m very interested in my future, of course,” Hamilton told media including Motorsport Week.
“And so, in that respect, keeping an eye, yeah. Watching everything that happens.”
Asked whether Ferrari’s improvements with its upgraded SF-24 car have been encouraging to him, Hamilton responded: “Of course.
“It’s been, you know, through the year, the beginning of the year, you know, if you look at somewhere like maybe China already, but the Red Bull was like a second ahead.
“And it’s been quite incredible to see the McLaren rise and then the Ferrari in the last few races.
“To see their progress and just trying to keep an eye on everyone’s car and what they’re changing and what they’re adding.
“We all watch the video, all the drivers, we all watch the onboard laps and we’re always trying to see where we can gain time.
“There’s some cars that just react differently and better or worse in certain areas.
“And you’re trying to figure out how you can find that within either your balance or get the team to develop the car in that direction.”
Hamilton backs Mercedes to rebound
Unlike Ferrari, Mercedes is still battling to get on top of the current ground effect cars, despite promising signs before the summer break with three wins in four races.
But Hamilton, who triumphed in Britain and Belgium this term, has insisted that the German marque’s setbacks will provide an added impetus to rebound next season.
“Of course that’s what we would have all loved, to have been in the fight for the championship,” the Briton acknowledged. “That’s what everyone works towards.
“We knew at the beginning of the year it was going to be tough as soon as we hit the ground and we didn’t expect to also have some of the success we had.
“Obviously, Silverstone, everyone worked so hard to get that result, which I’m so incredibly grateful to the team for.
“I know this team so well, and I know that the results and the position we’re in this year will just only fuel them even more to work harder to have a better car next year.”
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