Speaking before he hit the track in Hungaroring, Hamilton told the interviewers and media that there remains a lot of hope and optimism in the ranks of Ferrari about the squad’s future and that fans should not be concerned.
Having taken time to reflect on his Ferrari career so far, Hamilton, who is one of the most prestigious Formula 1 drivers ever, has said that he believes the legendary Scuderia team can win titles again. Hamilton won seven F1 Drivers’ Championships over 12 years during his time at Mercedes before he made the huge move to Ferrari at the start of 2025. He joins a solid Ferrari team who are seeking to end the drought that the famous Italian team has endured since their last Championship win in 2008.
Many in the sport do not share the same sentiment as Hamilton. Indeed, bookies have Ferrari as the underdog for most of the upcoming competitions. The worldwide online gambling boom has helped facilitate chances for those looking to place bets on the upcoming races and F1 season with more competitive markets and a wider choice of different sports. This means even the best NZ betting sites on the other side of the world offer punters the chance to get the best price and odds on wagers on the F1 when it races in Europe.
Hamilton told the media that he believes the team has all the right ingredients to win the World Championships; they just need to make sure everything is aligned and streamlined to avoid any additional stress, and they will be in with a shout.
On a personal level, Hamilton has had a pretty up-and-down time since making his move to Ferrari. He won in China and gained a Spint pole position, but during a painful weekend in Hungary commented on his performance, mentioning that he was ‘absolutely useless’. He has gone on to describe this season so far as being the most intense one of his career so far, with so many changes, huge pressure, and a new team to compete with. This has meant a culture change for him, which hasn’t gone as smoothly as perhaps he was expecting it to.
Hamilton advised those he was speaking to in the media that he is looking forward to the summer break, where he can leave the track behind him and recharge at home with his family. However, he backed this up with further comments mentioning how he believes he will come back stronger and hungrier than ever before.
Despite Hamilton’s positivity, Guenther Steiner is of a different opinion. The former Haas F1 team principal mentioned in a recent interview that he thinks the new F1 rules and Regulations changes may spell the end for the famous British racer. Steiner was sympathetic to the huge amount of pressure placed on Hamilton at Ferrari, but was brutally honest in his remarks, where he commented that Hamilton is nowhere near the level of his teammate, Charles Leclerc. Steiner thinks that Hamilton has lost the belief in himself, which he thinks this summer may quite literally break him.
The time Hamilton will have over the summer to reflect on his first year at Ferrari may play on the 40-year-old Englishman’s mind, or it may inspire him to greatness in the new season. For now, Hamilton seems keen to take a backseat and chill ahead of the mounting pressure that is sure to come his way.