Lewis Hamilton via X, taken by Andre D. Wagner
Lewis Hamilton begins his Ferrari era with Maranello visit
Tereza Hořínková
News.gp journalist and a girl with big dreams
Lewis Hamilton described his first day at Ferrari’s Maranello factory as the realization of a "dream" and an experience he will "remember forever."
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Lewis Hamilton officially began his Ferrari journey on Monday, arriving in Maranello to prepare for his first season with the Italian team.
After 12 incredible years at Mercedes, where he became the most successful driver in Formula 1 history, Hamilton is now ready for a new challenge. He joins Charles Leclerc at Ferrari, hoping to achieve his eighth world championship and help the team end its title drought, which has lasted since 2008.
Hamilton’s first day was filled with excitement as he met the engineers and started getting used to his new surroundings. He worked closely with his new race engineer, Riccardo Adami, and made sure his steering wheel adjustments were just right. Hamilton also spent time in Ferrari’s simulator, preparing for his first on-track test at the Fiorano circuit.
Reflecting on the day, he shared on social media: "There are some days that you know you’ll remember forever and today, my first as a Ferrari driver, is one of those days.
"I’ve been lucky enough to have achieved things in my career I never thought possible, but part of me has always held on to that dream of racing in red. I couldn’t be happier to realise that dream today.
"Today we start a new era in the history of this iconic team, and I can’t wait to see what story we will write together."
To mark the occasion, Hamilton posted a photo of himself next to a Ferrari F40 at the team’s historic headquarters. The post, also translated into Italian for Ferrari’s loyal Tifosi fans, expressed his excitement for this new chapter.
Hamilton’s arrival has created a buzz in Maranello and the surrounding area. Motorsport.com reports that hotels in nearby Sassuolo are fully booked, and the local mayor has called for extra security to manage the crowd of fans near the factory and Fiorano track.
Over the next few days, Hamilton and Leclerc will test older cars at Fiorano, part of Ferrari’s plan to use all 1000 kilometers of testing allowed by Formula 1’s rules. They’ll also prepare for further testing later this month at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
