Lewis Hamilton is officially a Ferrari F1 driver. After a year of waiting, the Brit is ingrained in the famous red team ahead of the 2025 season.
Ferrari unveiled their livery for the SF-25 on Tuesday at the F1 75 launch event at the O2 Arena. The evening was the seven-time champion’s first public appearance wearing red.
Frederic Vasseur says Hamilton was ’emotional’ at the event. The Brit received by far the biggest cheer from the crowd as he walked on stage with the team principal and teammate Charles Leclerc.
There was little time to ponder on the event as Ferrari flew straight back to Italy to test the SF-25 for the first time the next day. Leclerc tested the car in the morning with Hamilton taking the afternoon session at Fiorano.
The legendary test track was the site of Hamilton’s first test for Ferrari in the SF-23 in January. The 40-year-old had made his first visit to the Maranello factory two days prior.
Hamilton has had a ‘tough’ first few weeks at Ferrari as he looks to get up to speed with an entirely new operation. But the Brit’s optimism and excitement for this adventure is clear to see.
Lewis Hamilton was ‘blown away’ by the reception and passion of Ferrari employees in Maranello
During his first visit to Maranello, the seven-time champion met his new colleagues for the first time and got to work in the simulator. Hamilton’s picture outside of Enzo Ferrari’s house sent social media into a frenzy, becoming the most-liked F1-related Instagram post of all time.
Speaking with the official Ferrari YouTube channel for the first time, Hamilton reflected on that day – one he had been waiting for for just under a year.
The 40-year-old said he was ‘blown away’ by the ‘passion of the people’ in Maranello: “The build-up to this day has been months and months and months, and it felt like, honestly the longest period waiting to start this week.
“But every day has just been so new and exciting, and meeting the team I was blown away just by the reception and the passion of the people.
“I’ve been at the races for so many years and you see a small part of Ferrari, you see the race team. But, naturally there’s always a big team behind when you actually get there and see them.
“It’s so vast and to see a small team, let’s say 100 people, whatever it is on the race weekend and the passion that they have, to then see the thousands that are in the background working on the cars and on the team, is elevated in so much more.”
Nigel Mansell’s ‘monumental’ prediction for Lewis Hamilton’s first season at Ferrari
The attention will certainly be on Hamilton when he arrives in Melbourne for the first race of the season. Ferrari expect Hamilton to perform at his first race with the team and he will be looking to hit the ground running.
Jean Alesi says Hamilton has ‘impressed everybody’ at Ferrari so far. The 40-year-old is more motivated than ever to fight for his record-eighth title.
Nigel Mansell expects a ‘monumental’ season frrom Hamilton in 2025. The 1992 champion says Ferrari are long overdue a drivers’ and constructors’ title – they have not won either since 2007 and 2008 respectively.
Hamilton says he is ‘invigorated’ for the 2025 season. All the Brit will be hoping for is the SF-25 to be competitive so he can challenge consistently at the front.
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