Lewis Hamilton has called suggestions that he has lost faith in Ferrari after the team`s double disqualification in China `complete rubbish`.
After making a high-profile move from Mercedes to Ferrari, Hamilton finished 10th in his debut race in Australia. He then achieved his first victory for the team in the Chinese Grand Prix Sprint race. However, he was later disqualified from the main race after finishing sixth due to excessive wear on the plank of his SF-25 car.
Earlier in Australia, Hamilton could have finished in a better position, but a questionable strategy decision to keep him on dry tires in wet conditions impacted his result. The disqualification in China was attributed to excessive wear on the car`s plank.
Speaking to the media, Hamilton addressed the situation for the first time since the disqualification in China. He stated, `I don`t really feel any frustration afterwards. It is what it is. Of course, we`ve gone through everything.`
`I visited the factory on Wednesday, and there were many learnings. We embrace both the highs and lows as a team.`
`Naturally, this is not the outcome that anyone works hard to achieve during a race weekend. No team, engineer, or mechanic dedicates their effort to such results.`
`I believe the most impressive aspect is how the team has responded to this, their dedication, data analysis, and our path forward from here is paramount.`
`I saw someone question if I`m losing faith in the team, which is utter nonsense. I have absolute 100 percent faith in this team.`
`I never expected to be winning from race one`
The partnership between such a prominent driver and team generated considerable excitement before the 2025 season. However, Hamilton has emphasized that he never anticipated immediate success.
He explained, `There was significant hype at the start of the year, and I`m unsure if everyone expected us to win from the first race and secure a championship in our first year, but that was not my expectation.`
`I understand that I am joining a new culture, a new team, and that it will require time.`
In a later interview with Sky Sports F1, Hamilton reiterated his confidence in Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur.
`I`ve really used these past months to observe how this team operates – it`s simply different from my past experiences,` he noted.
`Every team has its unique approach – McLaren was different, Mercedes was again different from McLaren, and Ferrari is different once more.`
`So, I`m focusing on observing and identifying how I can contribute and what I can bring to the team. There are definitely areas for improvement, but I believe Fred has an excellent approach.`
Hamilton also mentioned that his departure terms from Mercedes prevented him from participating in the post-season test in Abu Dhabi in December, where drivers could test the new 2025 tires for the first time.
This, along with an issue during the final day of pre-season testing in Bahrain in February, limited his long-run experience with the new tire compounds.
He added, `Again, I didn`t anticipate winning from the first race – even the Sprint race victory was a pleasant surprise, to be honest.`
`It was actually the first time I had completed a long run on any of the tires, and in the race, it was the first time I had driven on the C2 tire.`
