Lewis Hamilton says winning a world championship with Ferrari is a higher priority for him than taking a record-breaking eighth title.
He came within one lap of claiming his eighth title in 2021. But, having joined Ferrari from Mercedes this year, Hamilton said winning a title with Formula 1’s most historic team is his main goal.
“For me, it’s the first,” he told media including RaceFans after driving the team’s new car for the 2025 season today at Fiorano. “Winning a championship at Ferrari is the first. That’s what I’m working towards.
“I don’t think about the number eight. I’m thinking about the first championship that the team’s won for some time.”
Ferrari last won the constructors’ championship in 2008, the same year Hamilton scored his first world title. No Ferrari driver has won the championship since Kimi Raikkonen the year before – Hamilton’s first season in the sport.
“They’ve already had many world championships over their history so for me it’s looking for that first one with the team,” said Hamilton.
“I’m also aware there’s a lot of drivers that never, ever get to win a world championship, first and foremost,” he added. “I’ve been fortunate to work in two teams previously, work with great organisations, and you’ve seen in the history of the sport where you’ve got great teams and things don’t align and they end up, some of them, not winning world championships.
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“But this team already has an insane legacy and they’re not short of how many world championships they’ve won. So I think in their DNA they have that winning mentality.”
Ferrari finished second to McLaren in the constructors’ championship last year, the two teams separated by just 16 points. Hamilton expects the fight at the front will remain close this year.
“The competition is fierce and we’ve had great results from other iconic teams like McLaren and now Red Bull and obviously Mercedes. It is going to be close at the top.
“But I’ve got a great team. The energy that I’m receiving from the team, there’s magic here. It’s going to still take a lot of hard work and grafting and everyone’s putting that in already to achieve it. But it’s also about belief. Everyone here dreams of winning with Ferrari, every single person in this team.”
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