Inside Lewis Hamilton's first month at Ferrari F1

From the moment Lewis Hamilton set foot in the industrial town of Maranello on a bleak overcast day in mid-January, the fanfare has exceeded all expectations.

- KIERAN JACKSON

In fact, Formula 1 has never seen anything quite like this.

The merging of the sport’s biggest star and the sport’s most fabled team has resulted in wonderful scenes of devotion, splendour and brouhaha. Most of these have taken place in Italy, Hamilton’s new home away from Monaco, with one memorable night in London on Tuesday.

Hamilton himself, on Wednesday, described his first month as a Ferrari F1 driver as, quite simply, “magic”.

Yet beyond the commotion and vigour off-track, next week is when it is down to real business with testing in Bahrain. How quick is Ferrari’s new car? The Briton will be all too aware that the past 32 days must not be his 2025 peak. But still, it’s been a mesmerising start.

Meet and greet

Day 1 at Ferrari HQ saw Hamilton meeting the 1,500-strong workforce in various departments at Ferrari. He shook everyone’s hand before posing for that most striking of photos in front of Enzo Ferrari’s house, dressed immaculately in a doublebreasted black suit.

The picture dropped. And the reaction surged. It became the most liked F1 post ever on Instagram.

Quickly, fans pointed to the potential symbolism behind seven open windows in the background – was the closed front door a foresight for title number eight?

He also met supporters crowded outside the factory, flanked by Ferrari chairman John Elkann – the man praised for luring Hamilton to the Scuderia for £50m a year – who had the face of a proud uncle.

A 'perfect' meal at Ristorante Montana