Ever since Ferrari announced at the beginning of February 2024 that Lewis Hamilton would be joining the team, excitement and expectation have been growing among the Tifosi.
Ferrari narrowly missed out on ending their long wait for a championship last season but their fans would love nothing more than to see either Charles Leclerc or Lewis Hamilton end that drought this year.
Leclerc is Ferrari’s prodigal son and has been associated with the team for more than half of his life.
They supported him through the junior categories and after a single year with Sauber, they promoted him to drive alongside – and eventually beat – four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel.
The arrival of Hamilton at Ferrari sees Leclerc facing his toughest task so far, even if Hamilton’s form did begin to suffer last season, particularly in qualifying.
Damon Hill questioned if Hamilton had lost his one-lap pace but the 40-year-old is more likely to put that down to the previous few Mercedes cars not suiting his driving style.
Hamilton will only discover over the coming months whether it was him or the car that was the issue, but he’s done everything in his power to integrate at Ferrari as quickly as possible over the past six weeks.
Team principal Frederic Vasseur has high hopes for Hamilton but not as high as Ferrari’s fans who have been turning out in their thousands to catch a glimpse of the seven-time world champion.
A report from the German outlet Auto Motor und Sport has shared more details about a recent event held in Milan before the team jetted off to the Australian Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton promised Ferrari fans he’ll learn to speak Italian during Milan event
Tens of thousands of fans turned out to see Hamilton and Leclerc in Milan as both drivers took to the streets to drive some of Ferrari’s old F1 cars.
Hamilton was spotted doing doughnuts at one point and showed his expert car control by avoiding the barriers on the narrow streets.
One of the most stirring moments of the event was when the Italian national anthem played out and everyone in the crowd joined in.
Leclerc was also seen singing along and joked with Hamilton that he’ll teach him the anthem in the future.
Talking to the crowd, Hamilton said: “Wearing red and experiencing an event like this is something very special, as is standing with you in front of historic cars, including those that Michael Schumacher drove.
“I can’t wait to get out on track with this special team. I think we have everything we need to fight for the World Championship – and you are a driving force for us.”
The report goes on to say that Hamilton then ‘promised’ Ferrari’s fans that he would learn Italian. Hamilton has already delivered a message in Italian to Ferrari’s staff but was still having to read it off his phone, although the effort wouldn’t have gone unnoticed.
Charles Leclerc can learn from Lewis Hamilton during first Ferrari F1 season together
While Leclerc the SF90 from the 2019 season in Milan, Hamilton was handed Ferrari’s 2021 car – the SF21.
Neither car went on to dominate Formula 1 and it doesn’t look like the SF-25 is going to end that trend.
However, Leclerc and Hamilton is arguably the team’s strongest line-up in decades and may be able to make up for any of the car’s shortcomings with their talent.
Peter Windsor thinks Leclerc can learn from Hamilton and remove some of the weaknesses that have prevented him from mounting a serious title challenge in the past.
Hamilton may have to be selfish in that regard and not give away too much to the Monegasque star.
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