After the end of a season, while waiting for the next one to begin, there is a three-month period that feels endless. For the past seven years, however, Formula 1 fans have had a fixed appointment during this time. In the early months of March, the streaming platform Netflix releases *Drive to Survive*, the series that uncovers the inner workings of the pinnacle of motorsport. This seventh season features Hamilton and Ferrari as central figures. Let’s take a closer look at one of the most talked-about topics of 2024.
As of today, Friday, March 7, the new season of *Drive to Survive* is available to everyone. Last year, fortunately for the show’s creators, was packed with shocking events to recount—from the sexual misconduct scandal involving Horner to Adrian Newey’s departure, from the Lando Norris – Max Verstappen battle to the McLaren-Ferrari rivalry, and from Daniel Ricciardo’s replacement to Sergio Perez’s.
But undoubtedly, one of the most debated topics, one that is still being discussed and will continue to be, is the move of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari. Even now, it remains an astonishing development—something no one would have believed possible just a few years ago. One of the most successful drivers in history joining the team with the most trophies in its cabinet—the perfect combination.
As expected, this storyline takes center stage. Of the ten episodes in the new season, three—one of which is the first episode—focus on Ferrari. The Scuderia takes the spotlight in episodes four and five. The fourth covers Carlos Sainz’s departure from the Maranello team, while the fifth highlights Charles Leclerc’s long-awaited victory in Monaco after years of misfortune.
However, the most astonishing moment happens in the first episode, *”The Usual Routine.”* The seventh season opens with a statement, a promise made by Lewis Hamilton in 2023: *”I don’t think there will ever be a time when I won’t be a Mercedes driver; this is my family.”* Given what we now know, it’s clear that this promise was not kept. Like many before him, Lewis could not resist Ferrari’s call.
The most heartfelt words, the ones that truly reveal what Ferrari means to Lewis, are those written under the photo of him in a suit and tie in front of the Fiorano circuit’s headquarters: *”There are days you know you will remember forever, and today—my first as a Ferrari driver—is one of those days. A part of me has always held the dream of driving in red. I couldn’t be happier to see that dream come true today.”*
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