Hamilton certain Mercedes will win another championship as he outlines ‘challenge’ ahead at Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton says he “truly believes” Mercedes will become a championship-winning team again in the future, with the seven-time world champion denying that his switch to Ferrari was motivated by any loss of faith in the Silver Arrows’ ability to deliver him another title.

After joining the team in 2013, Hamilton quickly went on to achieve huge success behind the wheel. The Briton won the drivers’ championship in every season from 2014 to 2020 with the exception of 2016, when he was narrowly beaten by team mate Nico Rosberg.

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The squad have struggled since the introduction of the ground effect regulations in 2022, though, with Hamilton having gone without a win since the penultimate race of the 2021 campaign.

And although he signed a new contract extension with Mercedes last summer to keep him at the outfit until the end of 2025, it was confirmed in February that the 39-year-old had activated a release option in the deal in order to join Ferrari next year, a move that sent shockwaves through the F1 world.

Despite looking forward to his switch to the Scuderia, Hamilton is motivated to do his best for Mercedes in what will be their final season together, and has voiced his belief that the Brackley-based squad can one day return to winning ways.

“I’m excited about this year, and I know this team is going to win another championship and I will be proud to know that I’ve been a part of it,” explained Hamilton.

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“Because a lot of the things [that] were put in place – in terms of how much more diverse our team is, the processes that we go through – I in the long haul will always be a part of that process and that development the team has gone through.”

Asked if one of his reasons for signing with Ferrari was that he no longer believed he could win an eighth title with Mercedes, Hamilton responded: “No, honestly, it wasn't. I truly believe that this team, as I mentioned earlier, is going to win another championship.

“It's an incredible group of people and it's really well run. Mercedes has such an incredible history and, from the board down, they are ultimately really heavily invested in racing and in so many areas, regardless whether or not this is a championship-winning car. That won't have any bearing on how I feel about the next stage of my career.

“As I said, it's all about a new chapter in my life, and I really feel like I've done everything I could possibly do with this team.”

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Hamilton feels ready for the new challenge that racing for Ferrari will bring.

“I'm on the back end of my career,” the 103-time race winner said. “I love a challenge, and this is the ultimate challenge, really, to go to a team that is incredibly iconic, has also amazing history, but also has not had as much success, I guess, as they would have hoped in the past decade or so.

“My goal is to beat them this year. And obviously that switches next year on.”