Lewis Hamilton has marked his first official day as a Ferrari driver as he embarks on the next phase of his career with Formula 1’s most historic team.
Having turned 40 earlier this month, Hamilton posted a photograph of himself at the Ferrari factory in Maranello. He posed alongside a Ferrari F40, one of the manufacturer’s most famous supercars, which entered production when he was two years old.“There are some days that you know you’ll remember forever and today, my first as a Ferrari driver, is one of those days,” said Hamilton in a post on social media.
He met with team principal Frederic Vasseur and Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna, and visited the former office of team founder Enzo Ferrari. Hamilton also met Ferrari’s son Piero, who is vice chairman of the company.
Hamilton joins Ferrari having won seven world championships and 105 grands prix over his 18 years in Formula 1. When he starts his 357th grand prix in March with the team it will be the first time he has ever competed in an F1 race not powered by Mercedes.
“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,” he continued. “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.”
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He is due to begin a programme of sessions in previous Ferrari F1 cars to prepare for his debut for them alongside new team mate Charles Leclerc.
Ferrari will present its new car for the 2025 season on February 19th, the day after Formula 1 holds its new official launch event. The team finished second in the constructors’ championship last year and are seeking their first title since 2008. The last Ferrari driver to win the world championship was Kimi Raikkonen in 2007, the year Hamilton made his F1 debut.
Hamilton’s first day at Ferrari
List of Ferrari Formula 1 drivers
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Patrick
20th January 2025, 12:05
Nice, two appearances in that pic that made recently made the headlines.
Moshambles (@moshambles)
20th January 2025, 12:39
That’s how you do it
BenHur
20th January 2025, 12:49
And giving away all sorts of Fezza memorabilia
David BR (@david-br)
20th January 2025, 14:04
You still haven’t explained what you meant. Because you’ve no idea what you actually meant or you lack the courage to explain yourself?
David BR (@david-br)
21st January 2025, 11:38
@Benhur If you’re not correcting any misunderstanding on my part, then obviously I am understanding you correctly. You’re like the juvenile Musk with his far right salute, you want to make the gesture in clear sight but without daring to say your actual views openly.
floodo1 (@floodo1)
20th January 2025, 13:02
Kind of crazy that Ferrari hasn’t won the championship for basically the whole of Hamilton’s career
rprp
20th January 2025, 17:16
Apart from year 1 (driver’s) and year 2 (constructor’s)?
Philip (@philipgb)
21st January 2025, 9:55
“And I Took That Personally”
Christopher Rehn (@chrischrill)
20th January 2025, 13:02
Look at this man, that is style. Even if fails to score a single point, Ferrari already made a great call in terms of merchandising value. Here’s hoping he can match Leclerc too, I’m very excited to see if Lewis of 2025 is still the same Lewis.
MGus.ai
20th January 2025, 14:11
Yeah, the ferrari stock price jump and this photo paid for his contract.
Michael A.
21st January 2025, 1:19
Good grief!
bernasaurus (@bernasaurus)
20th January 2025, 13:15
I’ve been watching F1 for more than 30 years now and I’m genuinely excited about this. That Lewis chose to not dress a space robot, but some kind of ‘Enzo inspired’ whatever that is.
I like it. I think it’s great for F1. So many have gone to Maranello as proven champions and failed. He’s won more than 100 grand prix, and that his ‘coda’ is with Ferrari. I’m curious, and happy for him and them.
Who knows how it will turn out. But it’s a great for F1 and us. It’s a story, and soon we’ll get the next page.
MGus.ai
20th January 2025, 14:14
correction: a space robot with no visual system and lack of protocol coherence
Cranberry
20th January 2025, 13:32
I can not wait for Hamilton to get humbled by Leclerc!
“Karma.”, as some would say.
grat
20th January 2025, 13:39
So what do you do if Hamilton actually is faster than LeClerc?
Cranberry
20th January 2025, 13:47
I don’t think the egos of Ferrari leadership would allow them to pay the kind of money HAM undoubtedly is receiving, for a driver to be slower than his team mate.
Were Hamilton to be faster than Leclerc: I’d consider it as proof that Ferrari is not providing their drivers equal treatment, of course.
IPBA
20th January 2025, 14:09
Of course the usual discourse of those who do not like Lewis. If he wins its because Rocketship, engine/car/engineers/preferential treatment. But if he loses, see we told you the guy is trash. If you then apply this to the driver they support then all hell breaks loose and you are called a crazy Lewis fan an nut job. Ahh the hypocrisy.
anon
20th January 2025, 15:39
To that end, we could also point out that the argument that poster is making is directly applicable to Leclerc as well.
By their logic, given Leclerc has been consistently paid significantly more than Sainz and been promoted as the leading light for the team, we should assume that Ferrari didn’t want Sainz to beat Leclerc and would give Leclerc favourable treatment to ensure that he finished ahead, otherwise it’d raise the question of why Leclerc was being paid so much.
anon
20th January 2025, 14:39
Well, at least you are rather open about the fact that you are not only completely biased, but will also change the narrative around the drivers to maintain your specific ideology, rather than being prepared to question your specific world view.
Alianora La Canta (@alianora-la-canta)
21st January 2025, 3:18
That is a strange approach. Karma requires prior wrongdoing, which isn’t something that one particularly associates with Lewis Hamilton. While it is entirely possible Charles Leclerc may defeat him at the first time of asking (I would not be so presumptuous as to call Round 1 in advance in either direction), any such defeat would not be karma-related.
The dude
20th January 2025, 13:33
Is certainly interesting symbolism to use the F40. Undoubtedly a classic and an all-time great, but had its day and maybe it’s performance isn’t that great compared with modern, younger ̶d̶r̶i̶v̶e̶r̶s̶ cars.
Leroy (@g-funk)
20th January 2025, 15:05
Definitely an interesting choice. I think Lewis will bring good knowledge to the team of what it takes to win championships, which is sorely needed at Ferrari these days, but his fastest days are behind him.
Pflite
20th January 2025, 16:52
F40…Lewis just turned 40 years age, maybe that’s the reason…
Tony Mansell (@tonymansell)
20th January 2025, 18:39
But also way more loved than the F50 that was supposed to be its spiritual successor….
David
20th January 2025, 13:46
What a ridiculous get-up. Inspired by a mob boss in GTA no doubt. He’ll regret the silly posing when Charles turns up in a tracksuit and destroys his laptimes.
IPBA
20th January 2025, 14:10
And if Charles does not destroy him as you say then can we get a photo of you eating said tracksuit?
Tony Mansell (@tonymansell)
20th January 2025, 18:40
A suit yeh how crazy can you get. As crazy as someone who gets in a lather about a suit?
MGus.ai
20th January 2025, 14:12
Superb photo!
Phil Norman (@phil-f1-21)
20th January 2025, 14:24
It’s a very stylish pose for the photo and appropriate for the circumstances. Obviously it’s not Lewis’ usual style and it’s all done for the cameras.
I hope things work out for Lewis and Ferrari. It does bring some extra interest to the season. I think Charles will be difficult to beat over a whole season. But I hope Lewis does give a good account of himself. It would be something for both of them if Ferrari won the WCC at least.
MichaelN
20th January 2025, 14:59
I’m exited about this, more than I had expected.
The photo is great, and of course; an ’80s kid needs that F40 there. Awesome.
Looking forward to seeing how this season plays out at Ferrari.
Tifoso1989 (@tifoso1989)
21st January 2025, 10:16
They couldn’t have picked a better car than the F40, Hamilton who already turned 40 was indeed a kid when the car was launched. The team needs to deliver this season a competitive car and capitalize on the strongest drivers line-up since the 06-08 period with (Schumacher-Massa and Raikkonen-Massa).
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
20th January 2025, 15:25
Nicely done. I bet Jack Doohan’s wishing he’d posed with a Renault 21 on his first day (too late now – happy birthday, Jack)
Will be fascinating seeing whether Fred’s Maranello revolution can keep up with all the hype.
Robert Williams (@weiliwen)
20th January 2025, 15:29
Dapper! That’s a cool look from F1’s biggest fashion plate.
Joe Pineapples
20th January 2025, 15:36
“it’s not personal it’s business”
Nulla Pax (@nullapax)
20th January 2025, 16:51
Psychology folks …. that’s what it’s all about.
Lewis is dressed for a funeral, and Ferrari can’t even get the wheels in alignment.
A picture tells a thousand words ;)
MPH
20th January 2025, 17:54
It’s called contrast, but then you would not understand
Coventry Climax
20th January 2025, 19:12
That’s not contrast, that’s rear wheel steering.
John H
23rd January 2025, 9:31
The rears clearly have higher negative camber, it’s not that hard to see.
Jason Blankenship (@jblank)
20th January 2025, 18:04
Congrats to Lewis and I hope he wins some races this season!
Tony Mansell (@tonymansell)
20th January 2025, 18:25
Very sharp and a touch Goodfellas there !
Coventry Climax
20th January 2025, 19:10
The guy looks the part, but what a weird hearse.
Michael A.
21st January 2025, 1:29
One point – we have been told every day since early March, 2024 that Hamilton will be driving for Ferrari. I suppose we will be reminded of this change throughout this coming season. No mention of an interview with Leclerc about his views on the team mate change for 2025 and onwards. Questions about being a compliant wingman and such. Why not?
Alianora La Canta (@alianora-la-canta)
21st January 2025, 3:26
Pretty sure Charles Leclerc answered this one in last autumn’s American rounds, in a rather more convincing fashion than any interview could manage. To wit:
Yes, he’ll obey team orders. Even team suggestions if he thinks they’re in the team interest (come to think of it, there was an occasion in the USA sprint race where he unilaterally called off an intra-team fight because he thought continuing it was against Ferrari’s interests).
No, he won’t be happy about it, neither will he make any attempt to hide this. Instead, he will try to change the situation so things go differently in the future.
At that point, an interview question covering the same points is redundant.
XM
21st January 2025, 12:22
This is why I liked the Lec-Sai partnership. When there’s a chance for themselves to go ahead that won’t impede their teammate, they’ll push the team for it. When it’s clear they’re better off helping the other to achieve maximum points, they’ll do it. When it comes the time to fight, they’ll do it. Silverstone, Charles held off the rest for Carlos to take his first win. Monaco, Carlos played the team game for Charles win. Monza, Barcelona, gloves off. There are more examples but for them, Ferrari came first.
I’m not sure how it’ll be for Lewis but I think he’ll comply. He’s been around for 18 years now, Ferrari has been around for 75 years.
David BR (@david-br)
21st January 2025, 14:41
@ Michael A I’ve probably read more interviews with Leclerc about Hamilton arriving than interviews with Hamilton about his move. Given you’re referring to Bottas, there’s little likelihood of Leclerc being in a similar position of having to play ‘wing man’ due to being constantly slower than Hamilton over a season. There may be reasons why he eventually falls behind and is asked to help Hamilton but the same will apply to Hamilton and I’m certain he’d comply to assist Leclerc if asked. He’s spent the last three seasons being a team player – actually too much in my view.
Maisch (@maisch)
21st January 2025, 7:51
I think this will be really interesting, i wish the top drivers moved around a bit more, it would make things more interesting :)
baasbas
21st January 2025, 9:01
That is a cool picture for sure. I hope his arrival will finally make Leclerc retract his thumb from his nether regions and step up his game
Jungle
21st January 2025, 9:26
That photo would of been a great caption competition Keith!
I am Count von Hamilton. Lets count my world titles. One hah ah ah two hah ah ah three hah ah ah….
David BR (@david-br)
21st January 2025, 14:06
It’s a stylish photo op and it takes a lot of personal style and self-assurance to actually carry off the look.
But the photos of Hamilton meeting everyone immediately made me wonder how much he’ll be putting into developing these new working relationships and new culture. Has he been learning Italian (Seb Vettel style)? I know it’s not probably essential but to maximize what the Hamilton-Ferrari confluence can produce, it will make a huge difference. Learning other languages is not a renowned English trait, however.
sam
21st January 2025, 18:08
any photos without the bloke in it? I’d love to see better photos of the car!
Edvaldo
21st January 2025, 18:30
Yes, there are. In Google Photos you’ll find plenty as this model has been around since 1987. It’s not a new car.
dutchtreat (@dutchtreat)
21st January 2025, 20:01
John Elkann, chairman of Ferrari does not dress as sharp as his employee but at least he is sponsored by Adidas.
I think the shape Ferrari is in right now and their 2 excellent drivers, can be a match for McLaren for the 2025 WCC? Good luck Lewis, you look swell.
Jogo
22nd January 2025, 12:44
At first I thought it was unexpectedly stylish. Then I remembered it was Lewis. And what do we have? Italian mafia vibes. It reminds me of the gangsta rappers of the 90s era. They liked to imitate American gangsters of the 20s, 30s: suit, coat, hat. Funny.
David BR (@david-br)
22nd January 2025, 13:44
With a bit of MiB and Peaky Blinders thrown into the mix :)