DOUBLE DREAM.

LEWIS HAMILTON, the most successful driver, bets on FERRARI, the most successful car. And vice versa....

BECAUSE HAMILTON IN FERRARI WILL BE GOOD FOR LECLERC AS WELL.

[by PIER BERGONZI]

The question is rhetorical, but everyone seems to ask it: who benefits from Lewis Hamilton's (historic) move to Ferrari? It's rhetorical because it assumes a universal and somewhat obvious answer: it benefits everyone! The number one driver of the last 20 years (7 titles won like Schumacher) chooses the most successful car ever to race alongside Leclerc, the Predestined One. It's clear that everyone "gains," including himself, Leclerc, Ferrari, and even Formula 1, which receives a tremendous boost of enthusiasm. Yes, because Lewis at the wheel of Ferrari upends predictions and balances. Of course, McLaren with Norris and Piastri arrives in Australia with a slight advantage, the legacy of last season's spectacular finale. Verstappen, who is hunting for his fifth consecutive World Championship, will still be around, and the Mercedes of Russell and Kimi Antonelli, the young Italian talent making his debut, are also on the rise. But Ferrari is fully in the race, and Hamilton's presence in the red suit of the Prancing Horse changes the landscape. So, should the rhetorical question be refined? Who will benefit more from Lewis's arrival in Maranello? And who will be the true "captain" of Ferrari? It will be the races that tell us, starting with tomorrow's Australian GP.

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But the opinion of the experts, is that in the end, the happiest could turn out to be Charles Leclerc. Hamilton is 40 years old and is on a downward trajectory, but he has the experience to improve the car day by day and knows how to manage races like no one else. Leclerc is very fast and has "hunger." Charles drives with his heart and has sometimes paid the price for his overflowing vitality. It seems natural to us that having a "master" like Hamilton beside him could help him complete his growth. This is, in summary, the technical and somewhat biased opinion of someone who is passionate about Leclerc. There are many fans of Hamilton, countless and around the world, who dream of his eighth title (one more than the record he shares with the two Ferrari drivers who get along well). A week ago, they paraded through the center of Milan during a beautiful (and unprecedented) Ferrari event. Side by side in a convertible Ferrari and then on stage in the shadow of the Sforza Castle, they greeted at least twenty thousand fans wearing red hats. They departed for Australia after a sumptuous soak in Ferrari passion. Lewis has already won wearing those colors. Leclerc has a real "nerd" as a classmate who can improve him. And we are eager to finally see the fans' wait rewarded. Ferrari hasn't won the title since 2007 (with Kimi Raikkonen). This time there is something more than just a simple hope.

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LEWIS HAMILTON : At Ferrari I have two missions. To bring the Prancing Horse back to success and win the eighth world championship to surpass Schumi. The Englishman approaches the start of the new F1 season with all eyes on him.

[by LUIGI PERNA]

He is the symbol of F1, a global star, a sensational market deal for Ferrari, which has already paid off his contract with sponsors.

In the gallery of champions of Ferrari, he was the only one missing. There had already been world champions like Juan Manuel Fangio, Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso, and Sebastian Vettel, but none had created the media earthquake that occurred with Lewis Hamilton's arrival in Maranello. The marriage between the most successful driver in Formula 1 and the Scuderia that made the history of Grand Prix racing forms a unique combination, with irresistible charm. Therefore, the championship starting in Australia, at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne, is one of the most anticipated ever. Lewis's new challenge, arriving at 40 years old on the red planet to chase the eighth title to surpass the legend Schumi, makes Ferrari fans dream and piques the interest of enthusiasts.

MUCH MORE THAN A DRIVER

In a sense, it was destined for Hamilton and Ferrari to meet. The English baronet had in mind to race for the Prancing Horse one day when he was still a promise in GP2. This was revealed by team principal Frederic Vasseur, who was then his manager at the ART team and is now at the helm of Ferrari. Paul Lewis shared this desire with some friends even later, after the move from McLaren to Mercedes, which was his home for twelve years. Now the ambition has become reality. And the seven-time world champion is enjoying an adventure he has defined as "regenerative," after the last difficult seasons with the three-pointed star. "I can’t wait to race for the first time with Ferrari. I have a mission ahead of me," he said, referring to the goal of bringing the Red back to the top of the world. President John Elkann, who had tried to secretly recruit him as early as the end of 2019, didn’t take long to convince him this time, also thanks to Vasseur's intercession. Thus, Lewis has embraced the project, dedicating every thought to it in the last year. Hamilton's signing was a sensational market coup. The former boy raised in Stevenage, a dormitory suburb of London, is the symbolic man of Formula 1.

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A global rock star. Lewis has gone beyond the boundaries of sports with his battles against racism and social discrimination, pushing Liberty Media to change the rules of the racing environment by expanding inclusivity and diversity. He has been able to range from fashion to music, setting a style. The rasta braids, tattoos with phrases from poets Emily Dickinson and Maya Angelou, and the flamboyant outfits showcased in the paddock have made him a figure with 48 million social media followers. "Don’t compare me to anyone else. I am the first and only black driver in the history of Formula 1. I am made differently," Lewis stated to emphasize the concept. Hamilton is like King Midas who turns everything into gold. His photo in a dark pinstripe suit in front of Enzo Ferrari's house, on his first official day with the Rossa, immediately became a manifesto. The cover that the American magazine Time dedicated to him bears his signature as "art director." He will even be a consultant for the Met Gala in New York alongside Pharrell Williams, the creative director of Louis Vuitton. It's no surprise that sponsors competed to support the operation that brought Hamilton to Ferrari. This year, the Scuderia saw its sponsorship revenues grow by about 100 million euros. A commercial success that has already paid off 140 million plus bonuses from Lewis's three-year contract.

ITALIAN LESSONS

Hamilton's first two months in Maranello, up until the start of this season, were a sweet honeymoon. Lewis took private Italian lessons to acclimate more easily and slept for a few weeks in a motorhome to be present at morning meetings without having to fly in a helicopter from Milan, where he settled in a penthouse in the Porta Nuova area. “It’s an honor to represent such a prestigious brand. The red color suits me,” he said. “I feel a lot of energy around me. Ferrari is a company rich in passion, and the factory is impressive. There’s everything needed to win the World Championship.” As a kid, he traveled around Italy to compete in go-kart races and has rediscovered the pleasure of eating pizza and pasta. “I’ve come to eat three pizzas a week,” Lewis admitted with a smile."I have always loved your country, from the food to the culture. I have to win to learn the anthem of Mameli. I used to hear it when Schumacher won."

FROM MERCEDES TO FERRARI

Adapting to the new car has not been easy, because the Ferrari SF-25 has very different characteristics from the Mercedes that Hamilton drove in past seasons. "Everything changes, from the controls on the steering wheel to the procedures the team follows, so I had to slightly modify my approach as well. But the car gave me the best feelings I've had in a long time," Lewis said after the tests in Bahrain. In the team, he has Ricardo Adami as a reference, a track engineer who has already worked with Vettel and Sainz. Additionally, he has called back coach Angela Cullen from her New Zealand "buen retiro," recreating the golden partnership from the Mercedes years. But he always brings along a personal staff including a press officer, photographer, and image and style curators.

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INTERNAL COMPETITION

His teammate is the young and talented Charles Leclerc, in his seventh season with Ferrari, loved by the team and the fans. The Monegasque, raised in the Academy's nursery in Maranello, is seeking recognition this year. He has already beaten Vettel in 2019 and aims to do the same with Hamilton. The rivalry will be inevitable. Charles has spent a winter in Lewis's shadow, waiting for the moment of truth in Melbourne. "We have two drivers capable of winning races and competing for the World Championship. We want to support both of them," Vasseur clarified. "Lewis and Charles will push each other throughout the season, and the team's performance will benefit from this." At Ferrari, they were not afraid to create a potentially explosive pairing like Mansell and Prost in 1990. So far, the relationship between Hamilton and Leclerc has been idyllic. They know each other well, respect each other as drivers, and have discussed for months what it would be like to race together at Ferrari. But the first races could already determine the hierarchy of the Prancing Horse. So expect sparks.

AND THE EXTERNAL COMPETITION

Hamilton's experience and charisma can make a difference in a decisive season for the Cavallino. A regulatory cycle is coming to an end, with the engine revolution of 2026 just around the corner, and Ferrari must not miss the chance to fight for the drivers' and constructors' titles, after last year's second place behind McLaren. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri's team remains in pole position, Mercedes seems rejuvenated with George Russell promoted to captain and the "golden boy" Andrea Kimi Antonelli ready to impress on debut, but above all, there is Max Verstappen determined to clinch a fifth consecutive title, despite a Red Bull that seemed in crisis in 2024. There is no doubt that Lewis is still fast, especially in race pace. However, there is the question mark related to age, which Helmut Marko addressed: "I doubt he can fight at the top for an entire season." We will see if Hamilton will prove him wrong.

So far, the relationship between Hamilton and Leclerc has been idyllic. But rivalry will be inevitable. And we will see sparks. © SPORTWEEK

AT THE WHEEL OF THE RED

A masterpiece of technology made up of 21 elements including buttons and knobs: this is how Hamilton will try to push his SF-25 to the limit. The Englishman has necessarily had to adapt to the Ferrari steering wheel given the differences compared to the one used in Mercedes up until the last GP in Abu Dhabi.

[by PAOLO FILISETTI]

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