Pictures: Hamilton And Leclerc Entertain Ferrari Fans In Milan Before Season Starts

Ferrari held a special event for new driver Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to greet fans in Milan ahead of the start of the new season next week.

Fans turned out in huge numbers to greet the pair, who drove two of Ferrari’s recent Formula 1 machines in the city.

Leclerc drove a 2019-specification SF90, of the type he won his first grands prix in six years ago, and Hamilton drove a more recent SF21 from four years ago.

Hamilton, who is 10 days away from his first grand prix start as a Ferrari driver, said his first weeks with the team have been: “incredible – since January 20th it’s been flat-out every day.”

“I’m looking forward to this weekend,” he said, “I have the weekend off, so I’m going to sleep.

“Charles and I and the whole team are obviously travelling to Australia. But it’s been a lot to squeeze into a short space of time.

“Even to just drive the car that we just drove, I’d never driven or seen it. So to get it started, to learn the sequences has taken some time.

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“But I love the challenge and I love being in Italy. I love being with this team and I’m so excited for the journey we’re going on together.”

Ferrari also put two cars from its most successful era on display: An F2004, which Michael Schumacher won his last world championship with, and a 248 F1, which was the last Ferrari he raced.

“Wearing red and experiencing an event like this is something special, as is being here with you in front of some historic cars including ones that Michael Schumacher raced,” Hamilton added.

Leclerc, who is starting his seventh season as a Ferrari driver, is pleased with the progress he has seen at the team. “Over the winter we have worked harder than ever to be in the best possible shape and we hope we can get some great results,” he said. “Maybe already in Australia.”