Lewis Hamilton has become the first Formula 1 world champion to join Ferrari since Sebastian Vettel’s arrival in 2015. During his tenure, Vettel secured 14 victories with the Scuderia but was unable to dethrone the dominant Mercedes team.
The four-time Formula 1 world champion originally replaced Fernando Alonso and partnered with 2007 champion Kimi Raikkonen. While they raced together for four seasons, Vettel emerged as the clear leader within the team. Ferrari had privately regarded Vettel as slightly inferior to Hamilton but sought a faster driver to serve as a benchmark, given Kimi Raikkonen’s struggles to consistently challenge in the sister car.
This strategy eventually led to Ferrari promoting Charles Leclerc in 2019 after a standout debut season at Sauber. Charles Leclerc wasted no time establishing himself, outpacing Vettel in the championship standings in his first year. That shift marked the beginning of the end for Vettel’s time at Maranello.
By the time the COVID-19-delayed 2020 season began, Ferrari had already announced Vettel’s departure, opting to bring in McLaren’s Carlos Sainz as his replacement.
Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari marks their most high-profile signing in over a decade. However, the seven-time champion now faces the dual challenge of proving to himself and the wider F1 community that he still has what it takes to win another title at the age of 40.
Lewis Hamilton adopts Sebastian Vettel’s notebook habit at Ferrari
During his first Ferrari test at Fiorano, Lewis Hamilton expressed dissatisfaction with the car’s pedals, which will need to be modified to suit his preferences ahead of his racing debut. These kinds of adjustments are typical for any driver switching teams, as comfort and familiarity in the cockpit are crucial.
In fact, Ferrari has already moved the seating position slightly further back in the car, addressing Hamilton’s long-standing complaint about being seated too far forward at Mercedes.
To communicate his desired changes effectively, Lewis Hamilton reportedly pulled out a notebook and sketched the cockpit layout to illustrate his feedback to new race engineer Riccardo Adami. According to Motorsport Italy, this approach mirrors Sebastian Vettel’s habit during his early Ferrari days.
Sebastian Vettel was known for meticulously taking notes in his notebook, documenting engineer conversations and jotting down detailed feedback after each run to ensure nothing was overlooked. It was one of Vettel’s signature routines during his formative period with the team.
Lewis Hamilton’s first radio message as a Ferrari driver
Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari has generated unparalleled excitement compared to Sebastian Vettel’s debut. At his first test in Fiorano, a crowd of over a thousand fans gathered to witness the historic moment.
Despite the misty and wet conditions, Lewis Hamilton completed around 90 kilometers of running during the session. More extensive tests are planned for the off-season as both driver and team prepare for the 2025 campaign.
A few days ago, the Maranello team released audio of Hamilton’s first radio message from the cockpit. Clearly moved, the Brit exclaimed “wow” over the team radio, describing the experience as “amazing.” These early interactions underscore the excitement and anticipation surrounding his new chapter with the legendary Italian team.
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