Lewis Hamilton’s transition to Scuderia Ferrari has dominated headlines all through the System 1 low season, sparking immense anticipation amongst followers and pundits alike.
As was anticipated, his first outing on the Fiorano circuit in Italy drew an enormous crowd, wanting to witness the seven-time world champion take his preliminary steps in Ferrari purple. That focus will solely intensify when he arrives in Bahrain for pre-season testing, the place all eyes will probably be on how shortly he adapts to his new environment.
Throughout the three-day take a look at on the Bahrain Worldwide Circuit, Lewis Hamilton will break up monitor time together with his new teammate, Charles Leclerc. Whereas each drivers will obtain equal operating in Ferrari’s 2025 challenger, Charles Leclerc’s deep familiarity with the group’s inside workings may give him an early-season benefit.
Nevertheless, Lewis Hamilton has already begun laying the groundwork to combine himself into the Ferrari ecosystem. After spending 12 years at Mercedes, he had an intimate understanding of each nuance inside that operation. Now, he faces the problem of immersing himself in a totally completely different surroundings—one steeped in custom and fueled by the expectations of Ferrari’s passionate fanbase, the Tifosi.
Whereas Michael Schumacher is now an icon at Maranello, his early years at Ferrari weren’t with out challenges. Successful over the Tifosi is not any simple process, however Lewis Hamilton has already made a placing gesture that might speed up his acceptance among the many followers and throughout the group.
A just lately surfaced video reveals Lewis Hamilton delivering a speech in Italian to Ferrari staff, studying from his cellphone whereas being met with enthusiastic applause. This effort to embrace the tradition and interact instantly together with his new colleagues is a major step in solidifying his place at Ferrari earlier than the 2025 System 1 season even begins.
An Italian media report revealed the main points of Lewis Hamilton’s speech, translating his phrases as a heartfelt message of gratitude. He expressed appreciation for the nice and cozy welcome he had obtained and shared his pleasure about starting this new journey with Ferrari. He described becoming a member of the group as a lifelong dream and conveyed his eagerness to begin working alongside his new colleagues.
Journalist Jose M. Zapico later identified on social media that this was one thing Michael Schumacher had by no means finished within the early years of his Ferrari tenure. He defined that Schumacher was not extensively favored in Italy at first and was solely totally appreciated after leaving the group. Throughout his time at Maranello, he was typically referred to by impersonal and even unflattering nicknames, similar to “The German” and “Sochmacher.” In line with Zapico, Schumacher confronted criticism for by no means making the hassle to talk Italian, whereas Hamilton had a minimum of taken the initiative to learn his speech from his cellphone.
Schumacher’s popularity in the course of the early levels of his Ferrari profession had been advanced. A report from ESPN in 2001 highlighted the skepticism some Ferrari followers had towards him, even after he secured his first title with the group. On the launch of that season’s automotive, the German driver addressed the notion that he was emotionally distant. He defended himself by explaining that he was not the sort to placed on a efficiency for the cameras, insisting that feelings couldn’t be manufactured.
On the time, Michael Schumacher had been accused of missing the identical ardour for Ferrari as his teammate, Rubens Barrichello. The ESPN report described how he had beforehand been seen as “chilly and aloof,” a picture that started to shift when he broke down in tears on the rostrum at Monza the earlier 12 months. Schumacher later admitted that his emotions for Ferrari had all the time been robust, even when they weren’t all the time outwardly seen. He emphasised that his feelings have been actual, even when they weren’t publicly displayed, including that he had skilled each pleasure and sorrow in personal moments away from the highlight.
Notably, Michael Schumacher did communicate in Italian at that individual automotive launch, a gesture that was effectively obtained by the followers in attendance. Lewis Hamilton’s current effort mirrors that transfer, demonstrating his willingness to embrace Ferrari’s tradition. Whereas he might by no means want to attain fluency in Italian—on condition that English stays the group’s main working language—his resolution to talk in Ferrari’s native tongue has already been appreciated.
Now, his focus will probably be on guaranteeing that his performances on monitor additional strengthen his bond with System 1’s most passionate supporters within the months forward.
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