It will take time to win with Ferrari, says Hamilton

On some days it is crazy to imagine that Ferrari have not won a Formula 1 driver's title since 2007 when Kimi Raikonnen delivered the winner's circle to Monza.

2025 will represent the 18th year of heartbreak for the storied and highly respected manufacturer who has fallen behind the brilliance of first Mercedes and then Redbull who have dominated thanks also to the mercurial talents of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.

Sunday's season-opening Australian Grand Prix will be Hamilton's first race for the Italian car builder following his seven titles with McLaren and Mercedes.

The 40-year-old Briton says he is still getting to learn his new surroundings and with it the Ferrari way of doing things but he was finding it stimulating.

"Coming into Ferrari power, it's something quite new, different vibration, different feel, different way of working. The whole team works completely differently," he told reporters at Albert Park in Melbourne on Thursday.

"You're looking at things from a different perspective, which makes it exciting and challenging. This is the most exciting period of my life, so I'm just enjoying it and I'm so excited to get in the car tomorrow.", he was quoted by Supersport.

Hamilton says that he is confident in his car but agreed that a target of a top-five finish for the first race was sensible.

He says he is still in a transition period of building relationships and trust at his new team which could last half the season.

"While respect is given, trust is something that's built over time," he said. I come with a very open mind coming into this weekend. It is about getting into a season, it's about getting into a good rhythm, he added as quoted by Supersport.

The season will begin in Melbourne this weekend and then shift to Asia. China will host the second race 21 to 23 March while Japan will be the third race on 4 to 6 April. The season will then move to Bahrain on 11 to 13 April.

There are 24 races in total, culminating in the final race to be held in Abu Dhabi from 5 to 7 December 2025.