What would you do for your idol? Lewis Hamilton’s autograph becomes a tattoo

A young Ferrari fan turned Lewis Hamilton’s autograph into a tattoo

This weekend at Monza the long-awaited Italian Grand Prix will take place, one of the most iconic events of the entire Formula 1 World Championship. Unlike other rounds, the Italian GP festivities do not begin on Friday with the first free practice session. Instead, fans crowd the streets of Monza and Milan days in advance, thanks to the many events that allow them to meet their heroes up close.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Scuderia Ferrari drivers took part in an event at Piazza Duomo organized by Peroni Nastro Azzurro. The gathering gave the Tifosi the chance to see Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in person, boosting the excitement ahead of Ferrari’s home race.

Amid the huge crowd, and thanks to social media, one young fan from Sicily stood out. Jose Berte, when he finally found himself face-to-face with the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion from Britain, made a request that many would consider unusual: he asked Hamilton to sign his arm so that he could later turn that autograph into a permanent tattoo. Formula1.it had the chance to speak with Jose and hear more about his experience at the Milan event and what happened after Lewis Hamilton’s autograph.

The atmosphere in Milan

Reflecting on what happened on Wednesday evening, Jose said: “The event itself was a true opportunity to bring together all Ferrari fans ahead of the Italian Grand Prix, certainly one of the most intense weekends of the season, where Ferrari can unleash all of its engineering strength and historic heritage at the so-called Temple of Speed. Once the drivers stepped out of the van, they were greeted by thousands of fans and their incredible support.” The Sicilian fan added: “I arrived in Piazza Duomo at around 4:00 pm, while the event was set to start at 7:30 pm.”

Supporting Ferrari, but loyal to Hamilton

When asked what it meant for him to support Ferrari, Jose replied: “I don’t consider myself a Ferrari fan in the strictest sense, but I am a Formula 1 fan who enjoys everything the sport has to offer. That’s why it’s not unusual for me to feel joy when different teams or drivers win, not only Ferrari. But as an Italian, it’s impossible not to feel a sense of pride and belonging towards Ferrari, and it’s always a pleasure to see the red car cross the finish line first. That said, I have been a fan of Lewis Hamilton for many years, even long before he started racing in red.”

Meeting Hamilton in person

Meeting someone you usually only see through a screen is always emotional, and having Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton just a few meters away was a special feeling. Jose explained: “Seeing Lewis so close made me realize that despite his unique personality, despite the world titles, the fame and the spotlight, at the end of the day he is still just like us. He is someone who feels emotions just as much as a fan with a tattoo of his idol Ayrton Senna, a tattoo that I had the pleasure of enriching with the autograph of a seven-time World Champion. He is a person who had no problem giving me a hug after helping me achieve the dream of a 23-year-old who has been following races with his father since childhood.”

The tattoo and its meaning

Jose decided to have Hamilton’s signature tattooed near an existing design already on his arm: a Formula 1 car of Ayrton Senna, a legendary figure in the sport and one of Hamilton’s own idols. Speaking about this, the young Sicilian concluded: “The tattoo of Lewis is not connected to Ferrari, but to Lewis himself. He is the one who made me fall in love with this sport, just like my father did when he told me the stories of Ayrton Senna, who was his idol and also Hamilton’s. Closing that tattoo with Lewis’s autograph represents the completion of a circle for me—one that began with my father’s idol and was completed with mine.”

The tattoo photo

The image of Jose’s tattoo, featuring Lewis Hamilton’s autograph alongside Ayrton Senna’s car, quickly spread among fans online, becoming yet another example of the passion and dedication Formula 1 inspires around the world.