Key Takeaways:
– Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula 1 champion, marked his first day at Ferrari on January 20, 2025.
– Hamilton is already familiar with Ferrari road cars, having owned three carrying the Prancing Horse.
– His debut at Maranello saw him posing with a pristine F40, followed by a meeting with Team Principal Fred Vasseur and CEO Benedetto Vigna.
– Testing for the upcoming season is planned at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya later this month.
Hamilton’s Grand Entrance
After many assumptions and speculation, the day finally arrived. On January 20, 2025, Lewis Hamilton marked his first day at Ferrari. This day will go down in history as Lewis Hamilton’s initiation into the storied Italian racing team. Dressing to impress, Hamilton arrived at the team’s headquarters in Maranello, Italy looking just as suave as Ferrari’s founder, Enzo Ferrari himself.
All eyes were on the legendary F40 that Hamilton was pictured posing with. But this wasn’t the only Ferrari Hamilton interacted with on his first day.
Hamilton’s Bond with Ferrari
Over the years, Hamilton, a car enthusiast and seasoned driver, has owned at least three Ferraris: a 599 GTO, a 599 SA Aperta, and a famed LaFerrari. Given his close connection and history with the brand, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him soon endorsing the F80 hypercar or the Purosangue SUV.
Hamilton’s Rolex to Ferrari’s Game Plan
After kicking off the day with photographic sessions, Hamilton then joined Team Principal Fred Vasseur and CEO Benedetto Vigna at Ferrari’s Fiorano track. Amid a warm and inviting ambiance, strategies were discussed, insights exchanged, and Hamilton got a feel of his new professional playground.
Next Stop, the Test Track
Our insiders reveal that Hamilton is slated to get behind the wheel of the F1-75, Ferrari’s 2022 season race car on January 22. This will be Hamilton’s first time driving a Ferrari F1 car. Fellow Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc is also set to join Hamilton at Fiorano the following day. Furthermore, additional testing sessions are scheduled at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Spain later in the month.
Life After Mercedes Departure
Before departing from Mercedes after a glorious 12-year tenure, Hamilton secured an AMG One, a street-legal hypercar equipped with an F1 engine. Other prominent figures to own this limited edition car include ex-F1 drivers David Coulthard and Nico Rosberg. Given this, it’d be interesting to see the dynamics between Lewis and Ferrari unfold, given his diverse motoring history.
Looking Ahead
With Hamilton’s move to Ferrari, the F1 community looks forward to witnessing the magic Hamilton will bring to the team. Notably, Hamilton’s archrival Max Verstappen has already starred in a promotional video featuring a Ford Mustang Dark Horse, teasing the alliance between Red Bull’s F1 car and Ford’s engine for the 2026 season. As the F1 series unravels, the audience can expect some nail-biting contests and historic turns in the history of motorsport.