The world has finally been given its first glimpse of legendary driver Lewis Hamilton arriving at Ferrari after nearly a year of build-up to this moment.
Ferrari fans were given a brief glimpse of Hamilton turning up early on Monday morning for his first day as a Scuderia driver.
It’s a monumental moment for Formula 1 as the sport’s most successful driver finally teams up with the sport’s most successful team.
Hamilton has a clear goal on his arrival at Ferrari – to win an eighth world championship.
The 40-year-old last won a title in 2020 after being denied on the final lap of the next season by Max Verstappen to surpass Michael Schumacher and stand alone at the top of Formula 1’s list of champions.
For Ferrari, the wait has been going on even longer.
Team principal Frederic Vasseur saw Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz come within a race of ending their 16-year wait for a Constructors’ Championship last year.
A driver hasn’t won the title for Ferrari since 2007 when Kimi Raikkonen denied Hamilton and Fernando Alonso at the final race of the campaign.
However, Hamilton, Leclerc and Ferrari will all believe they now have their best opportunity in years to end that wait.
Hamilton has now posted a photo on social media announcing his arrival at Maranello which has caught the attention of world champion Damon Hill.
Damon Hill reacts to Lewis Hamilton’s first photo as a Ferrari Formula 1 driver
Posting a photo of himself in front of Enzo Ferrari’s iconic home at Maranello, Hamilton said: “There are some days that you know you’ll remember forever and today, my first as a Ferrari driver, is one of those days.
“I’ve been lucky enough to have achieved things in my career I never thought possible, but part of me has always held on to that dream of racing in red.
“I couldn’t be happier to realise that dream today.
“Today we start a new era in the history of this iconic team, and I can’t wait to see what story we will write together.”
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Damon Hill reacted on Instagram to Hamilton dressed very smartly and replied: “There it is, the beginning @scuderiaferrari”
It’s a fantastic image and is already getting Ferrari fans very excited.
However, the hype will increase even further when he’s seen in a Ferrari racing overall for the first time.
Lewis Hamilton’s first tasks as a Ferrari driver after making Mercedes switch
Although the most exciting most for Ferrari fans will be to see Hamilton get into one of their Formula 1 cars for the first time, he has plenty of work to do before that happens.
Hamilton’s tasks on his first day at Ferrari won’t see him drive a car but he might at least sit in one.
Meeting the engineers, mechanics and other staff who will be hoping Hamilton can deliver the success they’ve waited so long for is on his list of things to do on Monday.
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Hamilton may also take part in his first seat fitting as well as begin work in the team’s simulator.
The 40-year-old isn’t known for spending huge amounts of time in the sim as Max Verstappen does but will have to use every opportunity available to him to adapt to his new surroundings.
Until Hamilton can begin the limited amount of testing drivers are allowed to do before the season starts, it’s his best opportunity to get ready for one of his most exciting campaigns in Formula 1.
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