Seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has taken an unorthodox and proactive approach to push Ferrari back to title-winning form, preparing and presenting his own performance reports to the Italian team’s top brass.
Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix, Hamilton said he initiated a series of high-level meetings with Ferrari chairman John Elkann, CEO Benedetto Vigna, and team principal Fred Vasseur, determined to break the team’s long-standing title drought.
Ferrari has not claimed a drivers’ championship since Kimi Räikkönen’s triumph in 2007, Hamilton’s rookie season, and last won the constructors’ title in 2008. Despite signing past champions like Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari failed to deliver a title with them, an outcome Hamilton says he refuses to accept.
“If you look at the team over the last 20 years, they’ve had amazing drivers… but they didn’t win a championship with Ferrari, and I refuse for that to be the case with me,” said Hamilton. “So I am going the extra mile.”
Hamilton, who joined Ferrari this season after a record-breaking stint with Mercedes, admitted the team’s struggles, no wins or podiums so far in the first half of the 24-race calendar, motivated him to dig deeper and help trigger change from within.
“I see a huge amount of potential within this team. Nothing comes close to the passion here. But it’s a huge organisation and not all parts are firing on all cylinders,” he noted. “I feel it is my job to challenge every area and everybody, especially the leadership making key decisions.”
Hamilton said he’s drawing on his past experiences at McLaren and Mercedes to shape Ferrari’s revival and aims to rally support within the team. “I’m trying to create allies… I’m here to win, and this is crunch time for me.”
The 40-year-old Briton remains optimistic that Ferrari can return to its championship-winning ways and hopes to contribute significantly to that legacy. “I truly believe in the potential of this team. During my time here, winning is my sole goal.”
Written By Rodney Mbua
