Hamilton does not feel pressure to 'prove anything'

Lewis Hamilton made his F1 debut in 2007, the year Ferrari won their last drivers' championship with Kimi Raikkonen beating Hamilton to the title by one point

Australian Grand Prix

Venue: Albert Park, Melbourne Dates: 14 March-16 March Race start: 04:00 GMT on Sunday, 16 March with first practice at 01:30 on Friday

Coverage: Live radio commentary of practice and qualifying on BBC 5 Sports Extra, race live on BBC Radio 5 Live. Live text updates on the BBC Sport website and app

Lewis Hamilton says he does not feel any pressure to prove himself as he starts his Ferrari career at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

The seven-time champion left Mercedes after 12 seasons in which they became the most successful team-driver combination in Formula 1 history.

The 40-year-old Briton won six of his drivers' titles between 2014 and 2020 but has won only two races since the start of the 2022 season.

Hamilton said in Melbourne: "I am under no assumptions it will be easy. I don't feel the pressure. The outside pressure is non-existent for me. The pressure is from within and what I want to achieve.

"I am not here to prove anything to anybody. I have done it time and time again. I know what it takes to do a good job and that's what I want to deliver, for myself, and my family, for this team that I really believe deserve success.

"They are so driven and maybe they have not had as much success as they would like and deserve. Just want to work towards and contribute to doing it."

Hamilton was relaxed and smiling speaking to the media in Thursday's news conference, oozing the positivity that has characterised him since he moved to Ferrari.

He described these days preparing for his Ferrari debut as "definitely the most exciting period of my life. I'm really enjoying it, and I'm so excited to get in the car".

Hamilton said it "looks like it is going to be close" between Ferrari, McLaren, Red Bull and Mercedes this season.

And he said he still had work to do to perform at his optimum at Ferrari, because he was getting to grips with the team and car.

"I am still learning this new car, which is quite a lot different to what I have driven all through my career," Hamilton said.

"Ferrari power, after all my career with Mercedes, is a different feel, different vibration.

"The sooner you can perform to a higher level, the better, but inevitably there is a transition period and a foundation that needs to be built. Relationships, trust with everyone. Respect is given but trust is something built over time.

"I have had some not-so-spectacular years and I am trying to make sure I have a better one, but there will be lots of factors go into that."

'Mr Ferrari' Leclerc 'completely fine' with attention on Hamilton

Hamilton is teamed with Charles Leclerc at Ferrari and said he had been impressed by the 27-year-old's "work ethic".

"It is not too dissimilar to mine," Hamilton said. "Just getting on with it. He is very much Mr Ferrari and it has been really cool to work alongside him."

Leclerc joined Ferrari in 2019 and has been faster than both his team-mates, Sebastian Vettel and Carlos Sainz. The Monaquese rejected any suggestion that he was "Mr Ferrari".

"There is no place for one particular driver in Ferrari," Leclerc said. "Ferrari is bigger than any drivers. And that has always been the case. That's what makes Ferrari so special. There is support of the team and not one specific driver.

"Lewis is coming as a legend of the sport so there is a lot more attention on him than me at the moment but I am completely fine with it. I completely understand that. It's normal it is that way. It is fine for me."

Asked if he had given Hamilton any advice on integrating with Ferrari, Leclerc said: "I really don't think Lewis needs any kind of advice from me. I know the environment more than him but he has introduced himself to the team perfectly and he already seems to be very much at ease.

"It is a long process, he will learn the car and team more. The advice I have given him so far is mostly about food. He knows if he needs anything I am here to answer his questions, no problems. But he needs less advice from me than I do from him."

Hamilton joined Ferrari with the target of winning a record eighth world title but Leclerc said he, too, was determined to become champion.

"This is my one and only target and goal and dream that remains to be ticked," Leclerc said. "I had quite a few dreams growing up. One was to be an F1 driver, and to be a Ferrari driver, and to win Monza and Monaco, which I did. And now it's only about being a world champion. That's my obsession."