Lewis Hamilton has marked his first official day as a Ferrari driver as he embarks on the next phase of his career with Formula 1’s most historic team.
Having turned 40 earlier this month, Hamilton posted a photograph of himself at the Ferrari factory in Maranello. He posed alongside a Ferrari F40, one of the manufacturer’s most famous supercars, which entered production when he was two years old.
“There are some days that you know you’ll remember forever and today, my first as a Ferrari driver, is one of those days,” said Hamilton in a post on social media.
He met with team principal Frederic Vasseur and Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna, and visited the former office of team founder Enzo Ferrari. Hamilton also met Ferrari’s son Piero, who is vice chairman of the company.
Hamilton joins Ferrari having won seven world championships and 105 grands prix over his 18 years in Formula 1. When he starts his 357th grand prix in March with the team it will be the first time he has ever competed in an F1 race not powered by Mercedes.
“I’ve been lucky enough to have achieved things in my career I never thought possible, but part of me has always held on to that dream of racing in red,” he continued. “I couldn’t be happier to realise that dream today.
“Today we start a new era in the history of this iconic team, and I can’t wait to see what story we will write together.”
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He is due to begin a programme of sessions in previous Ferrari F1 cars to prepare for his debut for them alongside new team mate Charles Leclerc.
Ferrari will present its new car for the 2025 season on February 19th, the day after Formula 1 holds its new official launch event. The team finished second in the constructors’ championship last year and are seeking their first title since 2008. The last Ferrari driver to win the world championship was Kimi Raikkonen in 2007, the year Hamilton made his F1 debut.
List of Ferrari Formula 1 drivers
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