Piero Ferrari is celebrating Lewis Hamilton’s historic maiden victory behind the wheel of a Ferrari, secured at the Spanish Grand Prix. The vice-president of the Maranello company views this breakthrough triumph as a sign of destiny, highlighting a striking historical coincidence.
Speaking to Quotidiano Sportivo, Ferrari stated: “I don’t think it’s a coincidence. The fact that Lewis Hamilton captured his first victory with our car precisely in Barcelona, where 30 years ago Schumi inaugurated his extraordinary sequence of successes with Ferrari, well, I read it as a sign of destiny, if not outright as an omen for the future that awaits us.”
The vice-president followed the action from his home in Castelvetro, located just a few kilometers away from the factory. He admits to riding an emotional rollercoaster with his heart in his mouth until the checkered flag, constantly fearing that something might go wrong. “Honestly, even for someone like me who has seen it all, it was a special emotion,” he affirmed. He went on to praise not only the British champion but the entire team for their masterful strategic execution of the race and the hard work put in over the preceding weeks.
When questioned about his faith in the seven-time world champion’s revival following a disappointing 2025 campaign, Piero Ferrari shed light on the technical context. He highlighted how much Hamilton disliked the ground-effect cars during his final years at Mercedes. In contrast, the latest regulations have allowed the veteran driver to immediately prove that he has lost none of his sharpness, hunger for competition, or racing instincts. “So, no, to answer your question, I am not surprised,” he clarified. He also noted that in the previous season, Ferrari had simply failed to provide either Hamilton or Charles Leclerc with a truly competitive package.
Piero Ferrari also revealed that his phone was flooded with messages, a clear indicator of the immense enthusiasm among the Tifosi as Ferrari returned to the top step after a long drought. While he admitted that it is too early to claim they have completely closed the gap to Mercedes, he emphasized the clear progress visible over recent races. “Furthermore, with the possibility of developing the engine, who knows, it might become easier for us to challenge the Silver Arrows on every type of track,” he observed.
Regarding a potential world championship duel between Hamilton and Kimi Antonelli, the vice-president expressed immense admiration for the young Italian prodigy, calling him incredibly talented and capable of wonderful things. He reiterated that the Scuderia must keep pushing down this path, reminding everyone that the championship is still exceptionally long. “Hamilton has a crazy desire to prove everyone wrong who was rushing to hypothesize his imminent retirement from racing. We shall see what happens over the summer,” he commented.
Turning his attention to Leclerc, Piero Ferrari firmly defended the Monegasque driver. He acknowledged that complicated periods can happen to anyone and stressed that he has absolutely no doubts regarding Leclerc’s core qualities. He recalled how Leclerc’s Spanish Grand Prix weekend was compromised by a mistake in qualifying while fighting for pole, which happened right before his technical failure in the race. “He will bounce back,” he assured.
He firmly ruled out any psychological struggles resulting from Hamilton’s resurgence: “I know Leclerc, and he is not the type to fall into a crisis just because he has a very strong teammate. After all, Lewis is a seven-time world champion, holds every record, and is a benchmark for anyone. But I am convinced that Charles will also taste the sweetness of victory very soon.”
When asked about the ultimate dream of clinching the F1 World Championship this year, Piero Ferrari concluded with a clear message: “In the meantime, let’s try for it. It is not in Ferrari’s DNA to settle for individual race wins!” Following the success in Barcelona, the message is clear: the Prancing Horse has no intention of slowing down.
This landmark victory marks a definitive turning point for Ferrari as they re-establish themselves at the front of the grid. By combining Hamilton’s unmatched racecraft with a rapidly improving technical package, the Scuderia is laying the groundwork for a thrilling championship battle that promises to keep fans on the edge of their seats for the remainder of the season.
Leave a Reply