Lewis Itching To Start

Switch: Pleads For Patience During His Ferrari Transition Period

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Lewis Hamilton said Thursday he was itching to get going during the "most exciting period of my life" at Ferrari, but cautioned of a transition period as he gets used to a new car.

After 12 years with Mercedes he will race for the first time in the Ferrari red at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix this week, knowing expectations are high.

The seven-time world champion officially began work at the Scuderia in January after his shock move and completed 162 laps of testing in Bahrain.

The 40-year-old said it was hard to assess Ferrari's place in the pecking order so early in the season.

"Obviously three days in the car, difficult to know where we stand with everyone else. But we just try to keep our heads down and just focus on our job," he said in Melbourne.