Lewis Hamilton is working hard to learn Italian as part of his effort to better integrate into Ferrari. Having spent his entire Formula 1 career with British-based teams, first with McLaren and then with Mercedes, this marks a significant shift for the seven-time world champion.
At a recent Ferrari team event, Lewis Hamilton surprised and delighted staff by speaking in Italian on stage. His 2025 teammate Charles Leclerc, originally from Monaco, is already fluent in the language, but it is not considered essential for success at Ferrari. Michael Schumacher, for example, never mastered Italian, and although this did cause some discontent among the passionate Tifosi fans, it didn’t stop him from clinching five consecutive world championships with the Scuderia.
Despite this, Naomi Schiff has pointed out that Hamilton might feel left out if he doesn’t develop at least a basic understanding of Italian. Charles Leclerc’s fluency means he could easily communicate privately with engineers, which could lead to a sense of isolation for Hamilton if he can’t join in.
Kimi Antonelli, Italy’s only representative on the 2025 grid, could provide some insight here. He is set to replace the British driver at Mercedes and, despite being one of the youngest F1 drivers ever, has already shown strong proficiency in English. Kimi Antonelli was also present at the F1 75 launch, where Hamilton made his first official appearance in Ferrari colors.
At the event, Kimi Antonelli revealed in an interview with Sky Italy that he had already conversed with Hamilton in Italian, and he was impressed with the progress the 40-year-old driver has made. Hamilton’s efforts to speak the language seem to be paying off, signaling his determination to immerse himself in Ferrari’s culture as he begins this new chapter of his illustrious career. He mentioned that they had exchanged a few words in Italian and added that Hamilton was improving in the language. He also expressed that it was nice to see Hamilton and that it would be exciting to share the track with him.
As a child, Antonelli was more inclined to cheer for Sebastian Vettel rather than Lewis Hamilton. This preference stemmed from Vettel’s connection to Red Bull, which reminded him of Ayrton Senna, his ultimate hero.
Lewis Hamilton has shared the biggest challenge he’s encountered since joining Ferrari, emphasizing how different the experience has been compared to his previous teams. The seven-time world champion has been settling into Ferrari by immersing himself in the team’s environment, even staying at the factory with his motorhome parked close to the legendary Enzo Ferrari’s home. In his efforts to integrate fully, Hamilton has been having regular lunches with his new engineers to build relationships and get to know the team better.
Speaking at a team event on Tuesday, Hamilton described feeling ‘invigorated’ by his move to Ferrari, a sentiment he admits was much needed after what seemed like a challenging period for him last season. This two-year contract with Ferrari marks a new chapter in Hamilton’s career as he transitions into the sport’s new era, with the possibility of extending his deal by an additional year.
Despite being prepared for a steep learning curve, Hamilton acknowledged that adjusting to Ferrari has been more difficult than he anticipated. The rigorous work and adaptation during the winter will only prove valuable if he is fully prepared to challenge Charles Leclerc as the season kicks off in Melbourne.
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