The move, described by many within motorsport as 'the last dance,' marks Hamilton’s first team change in over a decade since leaving McLaren for Mercedes in 2013.
Following the official press release confirming his move, Hamilton recently visited the Scuderia’s headquarters in Maranello, receiving a much-anticipated reception. John Elkann, Ferrari's chairman and an instrumental person in securing Hamilton’s signature, welcomed the 7-time world champion, along with Piero Ferrari, the vice chairman and son of Enzo Ferrari. On Instagram, Hamilton reflected on the historic moment, expressing that it had been his career-long "dream of racing in red."
Expressing that it had been his career-long "dream of racing in red."
Sports journalist and F1 correspondent, Lawrence Barretto, noted that Hamilton’s Ferrari switch was the biggest news of his career. The excitement surrounding the move was further solidified when the first official image of Hamilton at Maranello became the most liked post in F1 history, with over five million likes.
While Hamilton's arrival at Ferrari has been met with enthusiasm, the pre-season build-up has not been without challenges. During a private test at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Hamilton was noted to have lost control of the car on his second day behind the wheel.
Although he was reportedly uninjured, Ferrari has refrained from issuing an official statement on the incident, reassuring that they have no concerns over his adaptation to the car. Sharing the SF-23 with his new teammate Charles Leclerc, Hamilton continues to acclimatize to Ferrari’s setup before pre-season testing kicks off in Bahrain on February 24.
Under F1's regulations, Hamilton is limited to a maximum of 1000km in older machinery before the season begins in Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix on March 14-16. However, he is scheduled for additional testing mileage through a Pirelli-run tyre test, offering him further track time ahead of his debut.
As the 2025 season approaches, expectations are at an all-time high. The team has made substantial strides in performance in the last few years, culminating in a P2 finish in the 2024 constructors’ championship.
As the new season unfolds, this historic partnership is poised to garner global attention, with fans eager to see if Ferrari’s new era can deliver championship glory once again.