Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari in Maranello: this was John Elkann’s dream. As broadly anticipated, final Monday, the headquarters at Through Abetone Inferiore 4 grew to become the middle of the world, a minimum of so far as motorsport is anxious. The British driver’s first “operational” day was a possibility to fulfill the workforce of the Prancing Horse, underneath the watchful eyes of all the prime administration of the purple workforce. Current in full ceremonial vogue had been the main figures of the historic Maranello firm: President John Elkann, chief govt officer Benedetto Vigna, and Workforce Principal Frederic Vasseur.
The seven-time Formulation 1 world champion appeared visibly moved by the welcome and by discovering the internal workings of the corporate that not solely produces probably the most well-known vehicles on the planet however is, within the sporting realm, the final word manufacturing facility of goals, no matter success on the observe. That success within the prime class has been absent because the time when Lewis Hamilton was taking his first steps in Formulation 1, astonishing the world together with his instant potential to struggle for the title as a rookie, competing towards Fernando Alonso.
What is for certain is that each one the members of the Italian workforce had been swept up by immense enthusiasm, which Ferrari will do all the things to channel as a catalyst for the championship hopes of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, who was additionally discreetly current. Furthermore, Ferrari’s meticulous consideration to each single element in communication and picture highlights the dimensions of the occasion, in addition to the big expectations this partnership will inevitably be required to fulfill. Nothing much less was anticipated from this preliminary level of contact.
Instances change, as does the best way of speaking with the surface world. We all know this nicely. Nonetheless, no Ferrari driver has ever been given such a welcome as a brand new arrival. In spite of everything, the Italian F1 workforce had by no means signed a driver with so many accolades. Not even Michael Schumacher, when he arrived in 1996, had achieved Lewis Hamilton’s milestones. Essentially the most highly effective message of the day is subliminal but very clear to these accustomed to the historical past of probably the most adorned workforce on the planet.
John Elkann’s presence, appearing virtually as a shadow for Lewis Hamilton at each step, at the same time as he greeted followers exterior the Prancing Horse’s headquarters, “betrays” the inheritor of the Agnelli household’s need to assert (and remind everybody of) the parenthood of the signing of the British champion. Past the assured return on funding from the colossal advertising and marketing and merchandising equipment, with the “Lewis Hamilton deal” the grandson of lawyer Gianni Agnelli seeks to etch his identify into the legendary historical past of Ferrari.
For these with a couple of grey hairs, it’s nicely remembered that the lawyer, a staunch Juventus supporter, was not accustomed to attending the key occasions of the purple workforce. Nevertheless, he made an exception throughout the 1996 Formulation 1 racing marketing campaign when the primary Ferrari of Michael Schumacher, the not-so-competitive F310, was unveiled. On February 15, 1996, Gianni Agnelli hosted the occasion underneath a marquee arrange in Fiorano. He took the stage throughout Michael Schumacher’s first official look and, in his distinctive model, conveyed the magnitude of the funding and the excessive expectations.
“Definitely, Michael didn’t come to us for a crust of bread.” These had been the phrases of John’s grandfather. The present Ferrari president has little in widespread together with his illustrious ancestor. Nevertheless, the arrival of Lewis Hamilton looks like a nostalgic try to retrace his grandfather’s footsteps. It undoubtedly sends a subliminal message to all managerial ranges of the Ferrari Racing Division: now that the Prancing Horse has a driver who has gained in every single place, greater than anybody else, there can not be excuses for not seizing the Formulation 1 world championship.
The automotive should stay as much as the seven-time world champion and Charles Leclerc, who, in his seventh season with the Italian workforce, has a singular alternative: to win his first world title by defeating the motive force who rewrote Formulation 1’s information. Final Monday is perhaps remembered because the day marking the daybreak of a brand new golden age for Ferrari or, at worst, one other grand imaginative and prescient and not using a blissful ending. Those that care concerning the destiny of the purple workforce hope to be on the daybreak of a brand new period of victories, no matter who will lead the historic Italian workforce to success as envisioned by president John Elkann.
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