It took him simply sooner or later 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 might need referred to as dreary, and had been “lit up” by Lewis, who didn’t shrink 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 Method 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 Method 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 realize the purpose. They arrived with a lot fanfare, just for the preliminary pleasure to ultimately fade away.
Will or not it’s the identical for Lewis Hamilton? He enters Maranello at forty years outdated—the age when many cling up their helmets. The British driver would be the first Black driver to take a seat in a pink automobile, a champion getting into Method 1’s holy floor after shattering all of Michael Schumacher’s information. The eighth title might eclipse the German driver’s seven. That is the hope, the expectation.
No lodge room may 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 pink automobile. It’s a phenomenon that goes far past mere Ferrari ardour, one thing the Scuderia should handle ultimately.
Whereas exterior enthusiasm from followers was predictable, the inner pleasure throughout the racing division was not as anticipated. That is an atmosphere the place Charles Leclerc has been the chief, younger, contemporary, bold. Desirous to win however constrained by a automobile that has lengthy prevented him from realizing his full potential. Now that the SF-25 could be the correct automobile to lastly make a critical try, within the ultimate 12 months of Method 1’s ground-effect laws, probably the most embellished driver of all time arrives.
In a single day, he took middle stage. Your complete stage. He adopted the workforce’s work schedule, particularly 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, workforce principal. Within the afternoon, he introduced alongside John Elkann, virtually reversing their roles, as Lewis Hamilton ventured into departments the place the president had by no means set foot. Handshakes, selfies, jokes: Lewis Hamilton related 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 move by throughout their careers, had 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 an alternative, he selected to claim his (robust) persona by remaining Lewis, the seven-time Method 1 world champion.
Right now, he will probably be seen wearing pink and can start working together with his workforce as one of many two drivers for the 2025 Method 1 season. The British driver has deeply touched these making ready the single-seater which is internally often called “the automobile for Lewis.” It’s clear that even an enthusiastic John Elkann has seemingly 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 will probably be a large success. Ferrari has guess 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 change into second nature, automated earlier than the season begins. The preparation for a Method 1 championship during which Ferrari is enjoying with a two-pronged assault, a dream workforce, has began. It is going to be the stopwatch that defines the values and the stability of energy. Charles Leclerc is the one who hopes…
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