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Lewis Hamilton defends Ferrari ‘dream’ and says: I played as Schumacher in video game
Seven-time champion stunned the sporting world with his decision to swap Mercedes for Ferrari in 2025
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Lewis Hamilton says he used to play as Michael Schumacher on the Grand Prix 2 video game when he was growing up, as he defended his claim it had always been his “childhood dream” to race for Ferrari.
The seven-time world champion, who will join the Scuderia next season after spending the last 11 years with Mercedes, added that he would try to learn Italian ahead of his move to Maranello.
News that Hamilton planned to trigger a release clause in his Mercedes deal, which allowed him to walk out at the end of 2024, sent shockwaves through the sport when it broke three weeks ago. Not least because he only signed that deal last summer.
But in a social media post shortly after the move was confirmed Hamilton said it had always been a “childhood dream” of his to race for the Italian marque.
That claim led to some gentle ribbing from Spanish rival Fernando Alonso, the Aston Martin driver joking that Hamilton had had “a different dream two months ago”.
But Hamilton has now elaborated on his long-held passion for Ferrari. Speaking on the final day of pre-season testing in Bahrain, the seven-time world champion said Michael Schumacher had been his favourite driver growing up, adding he used to idolise the German driver during his dominant years with Ferrari.
Hamilton said: “I think for every driver growing up, watching history, watching Michael Schumacher, in his prime…I think all of us sit in our garage and see the screen pop up and you see the driver in the red car, and you wonder what it’d be like to be sat in the red car.
“And you go to the Italian Grand Prix, and we see the sea of red Ferrari fans, and you can only stand in awe of that… It’s a team that’s not had huge success since Michael’s day, or since 2007. But I see it as a huge challenge.
He added: “Without a doubt, even as a kid, I used to play Grand Prix 2 [a video game] as Michael in that car. So, it’s definitely a dream and one I’m really excited about.”
Hamilton on the importance of Vasseur in switch
Asked what had changed over the winter to convince him to trigger his release clause, Hamilton, 39, said he wanted a new challenge. “Ultimately I am writing my story, and I felt like it was time to start a new chapter,” he explained.
Hamilton added that the presence of Fred Vasseur, with whom he worked in Formula 3 and then GP2 (now Formula 2) was key to the move, describing the Ferrari team principal as an “amazing team manager”.
“I think just the stars aligned,” he said. “It really wouldn’t have happened without him [the move to Ferrari], so I’m really grateful and I’m really excited about the work that he’s doing there.”
Hamilton still has an entire season’s worth of races – 24 of them – for Mercedes before he can don his red overalls for the first time.
W15 ‘enjoyable to drive’ in early boost
The seven-time world champion described the W15, which he has been driving in Bahrain, as “much more enjoyable to drive” than last year’s W14, even if it was still some way behind Red Bull.
“It’s a work in progress,” Hamilton said. “It’s definitely improved. The car is still stiff and bumpy, as is the way with this generation of car. But the guys have done a good job over the winter. Yesterday was a good day. It felt much more enjoyable to drive. Red Bull are clearly out in the distance, but I think it’s a good platform to work from.”
He finished by saying that he wanted to focus “100 per cent” on finishing strongly for Mercedes before turning his attentions to Ferrari, where he vowed he would try to master the local language.
“In all these years I’ve not managed to learn any languages, but I will definitely try,” he smiled. “I do remember karting in Italy and I was able to pick up a few lines so hopefully they’ll come back to me quickly.”
The first race of the season takes place in Bahrain on Saturday March 2.