Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, the most successful driver in the history of Formula One, arrived at Ferrari on Monday, marking his first day with the iconic Italian team. Hamilton expressed his excitement, stating that racing for Ferrari is a dream come true.
It has been almost a year since Hamilton shocked the racing world with his decision to leave Mercedes, where he had won six of his seven Formula One world championships, in favor of joining Ferrari. Now, at the age of 40, he finds himself at the team’s headquarters in Maranello for his official debut.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Hamilton reflected on the significance of the day. He wrote, “There are certain days that stay with you forever, and today, my first day as a Ferrari driver, is one of them. Throughout my career, I have achieved things that I never thought possible, but deep down, I always held onto the dream of racing in red. Today, I am overjoyed to see that dream become a reality.”
Hamilton’s initial activities at Ferrari included a seat fitting and a session in the simulator. However, due to adverse weather conditions, it is unlikely that he will have his first outing at the Fiorano test track until Wednesday. Official testing for the upcoming season will commence in Bahrain from February 26th to 28th.
Last season, the British driver had his least successful year in Formula One, finishing in seventh place overall in terms of championship position. However, he managed to secure victory in two races, breaking his two-year winless streak. Hamilton’s most recent championship win occurred in 2020.
For the upcoming 2025 season, Hamilton will be partnering with Charles Leclerc at Ferrari. The team has not won a driver’s title since 2007. Hamilton will be replacing Carlos Sainz, who has moved to Williams. The season will kick off with the Australian GP from March 14-16.
“Today marks the beginning of a new chapter for this legendary team, and I am eagerly anticipating the journey we will embark on together,” expressed Hamilton.
