Lewis Hamilton is realising one of his racing dreams at Ferrari. The Scuderia are F1’s most successful team, and also its most iconic outfit.
According to team principal Fred Vasseur, Hamilton has dreamed of Ferrari since 2004, when he was still racing in the junior categories. It was unclear whether the move would ever happen as he signed multiple extensions at Mercedes.
Hamilton ultimately spent 12 seasons at Brackley, having joined at the start of 2013. He signed his last deal in August 2023, but it was a matter of months before he activated an exit clause.
The seven-time world champion knew this was likely his last opportunity to move to Maranello. He turned 40 earlier this month, only the second driver on the current grid to celebrate that birthday after Fernando Alonso.
Hamilton reported to Maranello this week to begin his duties. There were ceremonial moments like his first official photo, which has now garnered over 5.5 million likes, but also important preparations for the new season.
He took to the track at Fiorano, Ferrari’s very own circuit, on Wednesday morning. He drove the SF-23 from two years ago, with a four-figure audience watching from a nearby vantage point.
Lewis Hamilton sounded emotional in first Ferrari radio message
Hamilton wasn’t able to fully push during his first outing. The Fiorano circuit offered little grip due to the cold temperatures and the moisture in the air.
Indeed, Hamilton was four seconds slower than Michael Schumacher’s lap record, set in the 2004 car. But he still found the experience special.
On Friday, Ferrari released additional footage from the event. The short video ends with Ricciardo Adami, Hamilton’s new race engineer, carrying out a radio check.
Hamilton replies: “Wow. Whew. It’s a… wow. That was amazing.”
Lewis Hamilton’s talks with Sebastian Vettel over Ferrari engineer
Adami was the natural choice to support Hamilton given that he worked with predecessors Carlos Sainz and Sebastian Vettel. Ferrari must be elite at the operational level if they’re to prevail in what’s expected to be the closest F1 season ever.
Vettel described Adami as a ‘friend’ and said he ‘represents the values of Ferrari’. They won 14 Grands Prix together, but didn’t achieve their ultimate goal of a world championship.
It was reported last year that Hamilton called Vettel to ask about Adami. His partnership with Peter Bonnington at Mercedes became one of the most famous in F1 history.
Hamilton hasn’t been able to bring any of his old Mercedes crew with him to Ferrari. But he does reunite with Loic Serra, who will oversee the Scuderia’s chassis after leaving Brackley.
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