British driver Lewis Hamilton, now part of Ferrari and a seven-time world champion, expressed his belief on Thursday that the Italian team can "fight for the championship" in his debut season with them.

During an event in Milan, alongside his new teammate Charles Leclerc, Hamilton unveiled the new Ferrari car in a showcase that included drifting and a mini circuit run. "Ciao, Milan! I'm happy to be here, it’s a real honor. This is my first event with Ferrari and with Charles, and I hope to do a great job this year," Hamilton told the excited fans.

The Challenge of Bringing Ferrari Back to the Top

Ferrari hasn’t won a Drivers' Championship since 2007 with Kimi Räikkönen, nor a Constructors' title since 2008. However, Hamilton’s arrival has reignited hope among the tifosi. "We are fighting to win, and we believe we can be in the title race. And with you (the fans), anything is possible," the Brit stated confidently.

During the showcase, the Italian national anthem played, prompting a lighthearted moment from Hamilton: "For many years, I heard the Italian anthem when Michael Schumacher won. But I don’t know the lyrics—I guess I’ll have to win to learn them!"

At 40 years old, Hamilton holds the record for the most wins (105) and pole positions (104) in Formula 1 history. He secured six of his seven titles with Mercedes, while his first came with McLaren. The highly anticipated 2025 season kicks off on March 16 in Melbourne, at the Albert Park Circuit.