Never say never’ – Hamilton aims to ‘give it everything’ for a Ferrari pole on deb…read more
“Lewis Hamilton has sparked excitement among fans with his bold declaration of “never say never” as he eyes a potential debut pole position with Ferrari at the Australian Grand Prix. The seven-time Formula 1 World Champion, who has accumulated a remarkable 104 pole positions throughout his illustrious career, expressed his enthusiasm at the prospect of starting at the front of the grid for Ferrari in his first race with the team.
Hamilton, who is still in the process of adjusting to his new Ferrari machine, ended the Friday practice session in fifth place, just 0.420 seconds behind his teammate Charles Leclerc, who topped the timesheets. While it was evident that Hamilton is still finding his feet with the car, he remained optimistic about his chances of securing a pole, emphasizing that he would continue to give his best in the pursuit of that elusive top spot.
When asked if he could start dreaming of a potential pole position with Ferrari, Hamilton admitted that it was still early days in his journey with the team. “For me, I think it’s a little bit early as I just continue to get to learn the car,” he said. “But never say never. I’ll still give it everything I’ve got tomorrow.” The British driver made it clear that he wasn’t putting undue pressure on himself, opting instead to focus on enjoying the experience while continuing to improve his understanding of the car. “I’ve got some pace to find. I know where to find it. It’s just about going out there and doing it and just building,” Hamilton added.
This season marks a significant shift for Hamilton as he adjusts to Ferrari, having spent the entirety of his F1 career with Mercedes before this change. With just a day and a half of running in the 2025 Ferrari before heading to the Australian Grand Prix, Hamilton has yet to fully get up to speed with the team’s operations and the car’s characteristics. The first practice session was particularly challenging, with Hamilton describing it as “a little bit messy,” though he felt more comfortable in the second practice session, which showed signs of improvement. Despite these early hurdles, Hamilton acknowledged that the process of learning the car’s nuances would take time.
He also noted that his familiarity with the setup changes was still a work in progress. “I’m still getting used to all of the setup changes. I don’t have them on call like I used to have with Mercedes,” Hamilton explained. “Where I’d been there so long, I knew exactly all the setup changes, so I’m still working through understanding what tools we can use.” Hamilton’s teammate, Charles Leclerc, who has been with Ferrari for a longer period, has a distinct advantage in this regard, as he is more accustomed to the team’s setup and operations.
As the season progresses, Hamilton’s battle at the front will be one of the most closely watched in F1. With Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren, and Red Bull all expected to be in contention for podiums, victories, and pole positions, the competition is set to be fierce. However, despite the early-season optimism, Leclerc, who topped the practice session, was cautious about making any predictions, particularly with so many strong competitors on the grid. “I want to be cautious; let’s wait and see,” he remarked. “But it’s right to say that after a day like this, we are looking forward to tomorrow and we want to target pole position.”
Leclerc acknowledged the potential threat from McLaren, noting that the team was likely to be one of Ferrari’s biggest rivals this weekend. However, he was also cautious about writing off other teams, especially Red Bull, despite their performance struggles in the early sessions. “For sure, McLaren is up there,” he said, “but I think Red Bull might be struggling a little bit more for now, but you never know with them, and especially with Max, you can never rule them out.” Max Verstappen and Red Bull, despite not showing their full potential in practice, are still widely regarded as one of the top teams in the sport, and Leclerc knows that they could quickly turn things around.
Leclerc also highlighted Mercedes as a team to watch, expressing confidence in their strong performance. “Mercedes look strong as well, so it is going to be a good fight, I’m sure,” he added, further emphasizing the fierce competition that lies ahead in the 2025 season. With multiple teams vying for supremacy, the battle for pole position and victory in Australia is expected to be an exciting and unpredictable one.
In conclusion, while Hamilton’s debut with Ferrari has had its challenges, his determination and belief that anything is possible are clear. As the season unfolds, the competition at the front of the grid will intensify, and with top drivers like Hamilton and Leclerc, the Australian Grand Prix promises to be an exciting contest for pole position and beyond.
