Michael Jordan left Lewis Hamilton hanging in | Sports News

Lewis Hamilton is hoping for a smoother start to his tenure with Ferrari than his planned meet-up with basketball icon Michael Jordan.

The seven-time Formula One champion is embarking on a new chapter after concluding his 12-year stint with Mercedes to join the legendary Italian team.

Hamilton, who last clinched the championship in 2020, is aiming for a record-breaking eighth title, which would surpass Michael Schumacher’s tally and end Ferrari’s 18-year drought at the top of the drivers’ standings.

This would be surprising, considering the 40-year-old has only won two races since losing the 2021 championship under contentious circumstances.

However, Hamilton hopes his first year with Ferrari fares better than his plans to hang out with NBA legend Jordan.

In a conversation with Time, Hamilton disclosed that Jordan was absent from their planned golf game. Despite agreeing to play against each other, when Hamilton arrived at the course, Jordan “didn’t end up being there”.

The F1 driver has played rounds with several celebrities, including Samuel L.Jackson and Spider-Man actor Tom Holland. However, as he prepares for the new F1 season with Ferrari, Hamilton doesn’t have much time for golf, with his sights set firmly on winning the world title. 

Hamilton shared his unyielding ambition in his interview with Time, “I know exactly where the North Star is,” he declared. “I know where I need to go. I know how to get there.

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“It’s far, and it’s going to be tough to get there, but I know I’ve got all the ingredients, all the people, an amazing team around me. So it’s how much you want it. And I can’t express to you how much I want it.”

While aiming for the title of greatest-ever F1 driver, Hamilton’s busy schedule includes co-chairing the Met Gala in May and co-producing a forthcoming Brad Pitt-led F1 movie due for release in June.

Despite these engagements, his foremost commitment remains to his new team, Ferrari. “You can’t stand still for too long,” Hamilton remarked about his shock move from Mercedes.

“I needed to throw myself into something uncomfortable again. Honestly, I thought all my firsts were done. Your first car, your first crash, your first date, first day of school—the excitement I got by the idea of, ‘This is my first time in the red suit, the first time in the Ferrari.’ Wow. Honestly, I’ve never been so excited.”

Dismissing doubts about his age, Hamilton confidently repudiated any hints at retirement, affirming, “What I can tell you is, retirement is nowhere on my radar,” he asserted. “I could be here until I’m 50, who knows.”

His focus remains laser-sharp as the F1 season kicks off at the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday, March 16.