It took him just one day to win everyone over: Lewis Hamilton showed up for his first day as an official Ferrari driver and immediately stirred strong emotions. Fans waiting outside the Maranello factory braved a cold, rainy, and gloomy day, what Italian singer-songwriter and composer Lucio Battisti might have called dreary, and were “lit up” by Lewis, who didn’t shy away from the warm embrace of many who, until yesterday, saw him as an opponent or even an enemy. Now, they are ready to support him, as he might be the champion to bring Ferrari back to winning a Formula 1 world championship.
Ferrari’s last drivers’ title dates back to 2007 with Kimi Raikkonen, and the Constructors’ title to 2008. Eighteen years is an eternity for Formula 1, which moves incredibly fast. Other world champions like Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel have tried to reconnect Ferrari with championship glory but failed to achieve the goal. They arrived with much fanfare, only for the initial excitement to eventually fade away.
Will it be the same for Lewis Hamilton? He enters Maranello at forty years old—the age when many hang up their helmets. The British driver will be the first Black driver to sit in a red car, a champion stepping into Formula 1’s holy ground after shattering all of Michael Schumacher’s records. The eighth title could eclipse the German driver’s seven. This is the hope, the expectation.
No hotel room can be found for kilometers around ahead of tomorrow’s debut at Fiorano. Proud ceramic or real estate managers who had scheduled meetings in Maranello chose January 22 to catch a glimpse of Lewis in the red car. It’s a phenomenon that goes far beyond mere Ferrari passion, something the Scuderia will have to manage in some way.
While external enthusiasm from fans was predictable, the internal excitement within the racing department was not as expected. This is an environment where Charles Leclerc has been the leader, young, fresh, ambitious. Eager to win but constrained by a car that has long prevented him from realizing his full potential. Now that the SF-25 might be the right car to finally make a serious attempt, in the final year of Formula 1’s ground-effect regulations, the most decorated driver of all time arrives.
In a single day, he took center stage. The entire stage. He followed the team’s work schedule, namely seat fitting and simulator, but he also wanted to meet and greet every member of the Ferrari Racing Department. In the morning, he was introduced by Giuseppe Vigna, Ferrari chief executive officer, and Frederic Vasseur, team principal. In the afternoon, he brought along John Elkann, almost reversing their roles, as Lewis Hamilton ventured into departments where the president had never set foot. Handshakes, selfies, jokes: Lewis Hamilton connected deeply. He struck an emotional chord with people who had never seen their idol come to their desks and planted a seed.
Even those with gray hair, who have seen countless drivers pass through during their careers, were moved. Lewis Hamilton arrived in Maranello dressed in black, impeccable in his coat and tie, with a formal and striking look. He gave us an image that is already part of Ferrari’s history, standing in front of the Drake’s office and the F40, a technological icon of Ferrari tradition. He entered the racing department with a disruptive yet respectful approach, fully aware he was stepping into a legend. But he didn’t let the Scuderia’s prestige overshadow him. He could have immediately worn the Ferrari uniform, but instead, he chose to assert his (strong) personality by remaining Lewis, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion.
Today, he will be seen dressed in red and will begin working with his team as one of the two drivers for the 2025 Formula 1 season. The British driver has deeply touched those preparing the single-seater which is internally known as “the car for Lewis.” It is clear that even an enthusiastic John Elkann has likely nurtured his usually hidden passion for Ferrari. The president was able to gauge just how spot-on his decision to bring Lewis Hamilton on board has been.
The media operation will be a massive success. Ferrari has bet on an ambassador unmatched on a global scale. Lewis Hamilton nearly overshadowed the simultaneous launch of Ducati’s Desmosedici at Madonna di Campiglio, but who could have imagined that the Englishman’s first day in Maranello would have such an overwhelming impact? No one.
Now, Lewis Hamilton is working in the simulator, learning the procedures that must become second nature, automated before the season begins. The preparation for a Formula 1 championship in which Ferrari is playing with a two-pronged attack, a dream team, has started. It will be the stopwatch that defines the values and the balance of power. Charles Leclerc is the one who hopes…
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