HIGH PRAISE INDEED FOR LEWIS HAMILTON FROM FERRARI CHIEF

    Ferrari Chief’s High Praise for Hamilton as Details of His Move Unfold

The Formula One world experienced a rare quiet spell in December 2024, but the silence was broken with the news of Audi’s complete takeover of Sauber and Valtteri Bottas raising concerns about the team’s chassis capabilities. Meanwhile, Adrian Newey is likely preparing for the FIA’s 2026 rule changes. Yet, the real buzz in January came from Ferrari.

A year ago, Charles Leclerc’s contract extension was finalized, but the lack of updates on Carlos Sainz sparked speculation. Many assumed Sainz was negotiating for equal terms, but behind the scenes, Ferrari Group chairman was in deep discussions with Lewis Hamilton.

Hamilton’s move from Mercedes to Ferrari shocked the motorsport world, with Toto Wolff scrambling to explain the departure of his star driver after 12 years. The deal Hamilton had with Mercedes, supposedly long-term, turned out to be much shorter, prompting his switch to Ferrari for a new two-year tenure.

Hamilton’s 2024 season with Mercedes was his worst since joining F1, finishing seventh in the drivers’ standings and losing in qualifying to teammate George Russell. Despite this, Hamilton’s points tally over three years edged out Russell’s. After Mercedes blocked Hamilton from driving for Ferrari in post-season tests, he officially announced his new role at Ferrari on LinkedIn, sharing a message in Italian with the word “andiamo” (let’s go).

Expressing his excitement for the future, Hamilton reflected on his transition and encouraged others to embrace change and reinvention. His first test with Ferrari’s SF-75 from 2022 is set for Fiorano, with the privilege of using Enzo Ferrari’s old house—an honor once reserved for Michael Schumacher.

Hamilton has declined staying at Enzo’s house, but Ferrari is rolling out the red carpet with extensive testing opportunities. He’s been allocated the full 1000km testing allowance, previously reserved for Leclerc, to familiarize himself with the team and operations.

While Hamilton is unlikely to join the ranks of debut race winners like Andretti and Mansell, he faces a fierce challenge from Leclerc, who won’t make things easy for the seven-time champion. Some commentators question Hamilton’s decision to team up with the highly experienced Leclerc, especially after struggling against Russell. Yet, Ferrari seems genuinely excited, with CEO Benedetto Vigna praising Hamilton’s powerful New Year message.

The Italian press, including *Corriere della Sera*, reports Vigna expressing optimism about Hamilton’s upcoming test sessions, indicating the high hopes Ferrari has for their new star driver.