As Ferrari prepares for a critical weekend at the Bahrain Grand Prix, former Ferrari test driver and team ambassador Marc Gené has delivered a glowing assessment of Lewis Hamilton’s early days at Maranello — while also issuing a cautionary note about the intense pressure that comes with donning the iconic red.
Hamilton, who joined Ferrari for the 2025 season after a legendary 12-year run at Mercedes, where he became the most statistically decorated driver in Formula 1 history, has already shown flashes of brilliance in his new colors. Most notably, he clinched pole and then victory during the China Sprint — a moment that sent Ferrari fans into a frenzy and offered a glimpse of what could be a new golden chapter.
“It’s very early days with Lewis,” Gené shared on the Beyond the Grid podcast. “He won the Sprint in China, which was amazing. I’m just getting to know him, but no one can doubt his talent. He’s very experienced, and you can really see he knows what he needs.”
Gené went on to explain how Hamilton’s adjustment to Ferrari’s environment — and their car — is no small feat.
“With the current Formula 1 that you cannot test, it’s so hard to change teams and get used to the dynamics, to get used to the steering wheel. That takes time,” he said. “But already in the briefings, when he talks, you can really tell that he’s giving some very important information. He’s very exceptional in tyre management. I look at the telemetry — and you see why he won so much.”
Despite the buzz from his sprint win, Hamilton’s Grand Prix results have been less impressive. He finished 10th in Australia due to a misjudged tyre strategy in wet conditions. In China, he crossed the line in sixth but was later disqualified after post-race checks revealed his car’s plank was below the minimum thickness. Most recently in Japan, Hamilton managed only a seventh-place finish, once again falling behind teammate Charles Leclerc — who has outperformed him in all three races so far.
Still, Gené remains optimistic about Hamilton’s long-term impact — while underlining the immense pressure that comes with being a Ferrari driver.
“There’s a lot of pressure at Ferrari,” Gené stated. “There’s no other team in the world where you have to cope with so much pressure. As a driver, he’s going to experience things he never experienced before.”
He recounted the overwhelming reception Hamilton received at his Fiorano debut: “They had to close the roads. So many people. This, at the end of the day, is nice — but it’s also unique to Ferrari.”
Yet for all the challenges, Gené is proud to see Hamilton fulfill a lifelong ambition.
“He has a very good team around him, and we’re making sure he adapts to the Ferrari world very fast. We are very proud that he chose not to retire from Formula 1 without living his dream of being part of the Ferrari family,” he added. “I think that’s part of Ferrari’s DNA. Everybody dreams one day of driving a Ferrari.”
With the championship still wide open and Hamilton eager to silence critics, all eyes will be on the Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend — where Ferrari hopes to convert promise into performance.
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