<a href="/f1" class="sdc-site-localnav__header-title" data-role="nav-header" aria-controls="sdc-site-localnav-body" aria-expanded="false"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 34 34" class="sdc-site-localnav__icon"> <path d="M6.02 12.67c.01.194.087.362.247.525l.188.192L16.52 23.45c.188.19.44.294.706.294s.518-.104.707-.293l10.135-10.134.123-.126c.162-.163.24-.332.248-.53.006-.173-.155-.438-.442-.725-.187-.187-.386-.368-.59-.537-.05-.04-.096-.078-.138-.11l-.496.495-9.193 9.193-.355.354-.354-.354-9.197-9.198-.484-.484c-.043.033-.09.07-.14.112-.204.168-.402.348-.59.536-.285.288-.446.553-.44.727z" /> </svg>F1 </a> <br>Lewis Hamilton's long-awaited first weekend as a Ferrari driver has been the big talking point in the build-up to this season; <strong>watch the season-opening Australian GP on Sky Sports F1 from Friday with practice at 1.30am and 5am, with the race live on Sunday at 4am</strong><br> Digital Sports Journalist <a href="http://twitter.com/@NigelCJourno" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" class="sdc-article-author__link">@NigelCJourno</a> <br>Thursday 13 March 2025 18:29, UK<br>Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player<br><br>Lewis Hamilton said he's "itching to get going" ahead of his Ferrari debut at this weekend's Australian Grand Prix<br>The build-up over the winter to F1's new season has largely been about Hamilton's move to Ferrari, with huge excitement about the seven-time world champion joining the sport's most famous team.<br>Hamilton has not been in a title fight since the controversial 2021 season after three mixed seasons at Mercedes, although he won two races in 2024 at Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps.<br>Pre-season testing in Bahrain suggested Ferrari are behind pace-setters McLaren but this weekend's action at Albert Park will reveal the true pecking order of the field.<br>"It was difficult to know who's where. It looks really close between us all," said Hamilton.<br>"But for me, I've been just itching to get going. I guess it's been a long time coming, and to think that this is my first Grand Prix, one of the one of those other firsts with the team, I feel very honoured and grateful to have the opportunity."<br>Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player<br><br>Hamilton is F1's most successful ever driver with 105 wins and 104 pole positions since he made his debut in 2007.<br> Stream every F1 race with NOW <br> When to watch Australian GP on Sky <br> Which F1 team has best 2025 line-up? <br> All you need to know about F1 2025 <br>The 40-year-old said he spent four days a week in the Ferrari factory at Maranello and was staying in his own world.<br>"I don't really read the news, and I go for long periods of time without social media, so I'm not bombarded with social media," he said.<br>"I live in my own little bubble there. I'm back at kind of square one. I've been giving absolutely everything to to training, to push my mind and my body further than I have before, trying to see if I can excel and just squeeze more juice out of this.<br>Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player<br><br>"I'm under no assumptions that it will be easy. It's not. But I don't feel the pressure. The outside pressure is non-existent for me. The pressure is with from within, what I want to achieve.<br>"I'm not here to prove anything to anybody. I never feel I have to do anything. I've been here a long time and done it time and time again.<br>"I know what it takes to do the job, and that's what I want to deliver for myself, my family, for this team that I really believe deserve success."<br>Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player<br><br>Ferrari have not won the Drivers' Championship since Kimi Raikkonen in 2007 as Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel failed to become world champions in red.<br>The Scuderia's last title was the Constructors' Championship in 2008, the same year Hamilton won his first title.<br>Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player<br><br>Hamilton has an "open mind" coming into Melbourne, a track Ferrari have historically been strong at.<br>"Joining a new team, as soon as you can get to performing at the high level and getting results, is the better," he added.<br>Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player<br><br>"Inevitably, there is a transition period and there is a foundation that's needed to be built. That's what we've been doing over the past couple of months and the first half of the season really is kind of that foundation, building those relationships, the trust you're building with absolutely every single person within the team that you get to work in.<br>"It's not something you just step into in the door. Trust and respect; while respect is given, trust is something that is built over time.<br>"Of course, the goal is to win. The goal is to take the team forwards. I've had some not so spectacular years and I will try to see if I can have a better year than the last three and there will be lots of factors that connect to that."<br>Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player<br><br>Hamilton will drive without a Mercedes engine for the first time in his F1 career, which is a significant change due to the technological differences.<br>He tested the 2023 and 2024 Ferrari cars in January and February but has spent just one and a half days in the 2025 machine during pre-season testing, where he was second quickest.<br>"It's something quite new. [The engine has a] different vibration, different feel," said Hamilton.<br>Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player<br><br>"The whole team works completely differently. I was just sitting just looking at the race trace from last year and it's upside down compared to the previous ones. I'm looking at it and I didn't understand it at all!<br>"Looking at things from a different perspective makes it exciting and challenging, this is the most exciting period of my life, and so I'm really just enjoying it and I'm so excited to get in the car tomorrow [Friday]."<br>Watch F1 races live on the Sky Sports app... with highlights, commentary, onboards and battle channel<br><strong>Thursday March 13</strong><br><strong>Friday March 14</strong><br><strong>Saturday March 15</strong><br><strong>Sunday March 16</strong><br><em>*Also on Sky Sports Main Event</em><br><strong>Watch all 24 race weekends from the 2025 Formula 1 season live on <em>Sky Sports F1</em>, starting with the Australian GP this weekend. <a href="https://www.nowtv.com/watch-sky-sports-online?DCMP=ilc_skysports_nc_articlelink">Stream Sky Sports with NOW - No contract, cancel anytime</a></strong><br> <a href="/" class="svg-logo site-footer__site-logo"> <img class="svg-logo__image" alt="Sky Sports" src="https://e0.365dm.com/tvlogos/channels/Sky-Sports-Logo.svg" onerror="this.onerror=null;this.src='https://e0.365dm.com/tvlogos/channels/Sky-Sports-Logo.png'"> </a> © 2025 Sky UK <br><br><a href="https://news.google.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?oc=5">source</a>
