- Lewis Hamilton has made the switch from Mercedes-Benz AMG to Ferrari
- The 40-year-old F1 veteran will be chasing his eighth title
- On his first day, he was greeted by an F40, his favorite supercar according to Ferrari
Formula 1 superstar Lewis Hamilton has officially begun his tenure at Ferrari, one year after making the shock announcement that he would be leaving Mercedes-Benz AMG, the team where he won six of his seven world championships. Mercedes has also powered Hamilton’s cars throughout his entire F1 career.
His final seasons with Mercedes ranged from underwhelming to dreadful, as aerodynamic issues led to poor performances, prompting his decision to make the switch.
Jan. 20 marked Hamilton’s first official day at Ferrari, and he didn’t waste any time. He met with several key figures in Maranello, Italy, including Team Principal Fred Vasseur, CEO Benedetto Vigna, Chairman John Elkann, and Enzo Ferrari’s son, Piero. He also visited the Fiorano test track, where a Ferrari F40—his favorite supercar, according to the automaker—was on hand.
In the coming days, Hamilton will dive into technical meetings and briefings as preparations ramp up for what promises to be a very busy season. He will also spend time familiarizing himself with Ferrari’s F1 cars and simulator and may even pick up some Italian along the way.
Hamilton is already somewhat familiar with the company, having owned some of its most prestigious models in recent years, including both a LaFerrari and a LaFerrari Aperta.
“I’ve been lucky enough to achieve things in my career I never thought possible, but part of me has always held on to that dream of racing in red,” Hamilton said in a statement. “Today we start a new chapter in the history of this iconic team, and I can’t wait to see what story we will write together.”
His first race with Ferrari will be the 2025 season opener in Australia, scheduled for March 16. He will drive alongside Charles Leclerc in the new season. His predecessor, Carlos Sainz, will be driving for Williams.
Back at Mercedes, rookie driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli will fill Hamilton’s seat. The Italian youngster has shown impressive speed in the practice sessions he’s attended, though as a rookie, he is still prone to making mistakes.