Hamilton eyes dream Ferrari start as F1 revs up in Melbourne

NEW DELHI: Lewis Hamilton will look to lay down an immediate marker against world champion Max Verstappen when the Briton makes his highly anticipated Ferrari debut at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix this week. The former Mercedes ace Hamilton is bidding for a record eighth world title and his first since 2020 after being outshone by the Dutchman and his imperious Red Bull team over the intervening years.

A bombshell move to Ferrari after a glorious 12-year spell at Mercedes has rejuvenated the 40-year-old, who is eager to apply the lessons learned from 162 laps of testing at Bahrain last month to race conditions.

“I’m so excited to get to the first race in Melbourne. I can’t wait to go racing with them,” Hamilton said of Ferrari.

“The passion here is like nothing you’ve ever seen. They’ve got absolutely every ingredient they need to win a world championship and it’s just about putting all the pieces together.”

Hamilton has tasted victory twice before at the fast and bumpy Albert Park circuit with McLaren and Mercedes, but not since 2015. Agencies

Also Read: Indian Wells: Alcaraz wins 14th consecutive match at ATP Masters 1000 event

Also Watch: