It took him simply at some point to win everybody over: Lewis Hamilton confirmed up for his first day as an official Ferrari driver and instantly stirred robust feelings. Followers ready exterior the Maranello manufacturing unit braved a chilly, wet, and gloomy day, what Italian singer-songwriter and composer Lucio Battisti may need referred to as dreary, and have been “lit up” by Lewis, who didn’t draw back from the nice and cozy embrace of many who, till yesterday, noticed him as an opponent and even an enemy. Now, they’re able to assist him, as he could be the champion to convey Ferrari again to profitable a System 1 world championship.
Ferrari’s final drivers’ title dates again to 2007 with Kimi Raikkonen, and the Constructors’ title to 2008. Eighteen years is an eternity for System 1, which strikes extremely quick. Different world champions like Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel have tried to reconnect Ferrari with championship glory however failed to attain the aim. They arrived with a lot fanfare, just for the preliminary pleasure to finally fade away.
Will it’s the identical for Lewis Hamilton? He enters Maranello at forty years previous—the age when many hold up their helmets. The British driver would be the first Black driver to sit down in a purple automotive, a champion getting into System 1’s holy floor after shattering all of Michael Schumacher’s data. The eighth title might eclipse the German driver’s seven. That is the hope, the expectation.
No resort room might be discovered for kilometers round forward of tomorrow’s debut at Fiorano. Proud ceramic or actual property managers who had scheduled conferences in Maranello selected January 22 to catch a glimpse of Lewis within the purple automotive. It’s a phenomenon that goes far past mere Ferrari ardour, one thing the Scuderia must handle indirectly.
Whereas exterior enthusiasm from followers was predictable, the interior pleasure throughout the racing division was not as anticipated. That is an atmosphere the place Charles Leclerc has been the chief, younger, recent, formidable. Wanting to win however constrained by a automotive that has lengthy prevented him from realizing his full potential. Now that the SF-25 could be the proper automotive to lastly make a critical try, within the ultimate 12 months of System 1’s ground-effect rules, probably the most embellished driver of all time arrives.
In a single day, he took heart stage. All the stage. He adopted the crew’s work schedule, specifically seat becoming and simulator, however he additionally needed to fulfill and greet each member of the Ferrari Racing Division. Within the morning, he was launched by Giuseppe Vigna, Ferrari chief government officer, and Frederic Vasseur, crew principal. Within the afternoon, he introduced alongside John Elkann, nearly reversing their roles, as Lewis Hamilton ventured into departments the place the president had by no means set foot. Handshakes, selfies, jokes: Lewis Hamilton linked deeply. He struck an emotional chord with individuals who had by no means seen their idol come to their desks and planted a seed.
Even these with grey hair, who’ve seen numerous drivers go by way of throughout their careers, have been moved. Lewis Hamilton arrived in Maranello wearing black, impeccable in his coat and tie, with a proper and putting look. He gave us a picture that’s already a part of Ferrari’s historical past, standing in entrance of the Drake’s workplace and the F40, a technological icon of Ferrari custom. He entered the racing division with a disruptive but respectful strategy, absolutely conscious he was stepping right into a legend. However he didn’t let the Scuderia’s status overshadow him. He might have instantly worn the Ferrari uniform, however as a substitute, he selected to claim his (robust) character by remaining Lewis, the seven-time System 1 world champion.
At present, he shall be seen wearing purple and can start working together with his crew as one of many two drivers for the 2025 System 1 season. The British driver has deeply touched these making ready the single-seater which is internally referred to as “the automotive for Lewis.” It’s clear that even an enthusiastic John Elkann has probably nurtured his normally hidden ardour for Ferrari. The president was in a position to gauge simply how spot-on his choice to convey Lewis Hamilton on board has been.
The media operation shall be a large success. Ferrari has wager on an envoy unmatched on a world scale. Lewis Hamilton almost overshadowed the simultaneous launch of Ducati’s Desmosedici at Madonna di Campiglio, however who might have imagined that the Englishman’s first day in Maranello would have such an awesome impression? Nobody.
Now, Lewis Hamilton is working within the simulator, studying the procedures that should turn out to be second nature, automated earlier than the season begins. The preparation for a System 1 championship by which Ferrari is enjoying with a two-pronged assault, a dream crew, has began. Will probably be the stopwatch that defines the values and the stability of energy. Charles Leclerc is the one who hopes…
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