British F1 driver Lewis Hamilton indicators autographs through the Ferrari Drivers’ presentation occasion in Piazza Castello in Milan, Italy, on March 6, 2025. For the primary time in a dozen years, Hamilton has a brand new crew as he goals to return his F1 profitable methods.
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Piero Cruciatti/AFP through Getty Photos
The Piazza Castello sometimes hosts a smattering of vacationers within the low season as winter defrosts into spring. Earlier this month, the historic coronary heart of Milan appeared a bit of completely different as crimson lined the streets working via town heart in northern Italy.
The group wasn’t a papal viewers or political protest, however quite an inauguration of types for a brand new nationwide icon.
Lewis Hamilton, the British race automotive driver, had landed in Italy clad in a Ferrari-red racing swimsuit.
“I believe we have now all the pieces we have to struggle for the world championship and I additionally consider that you simply followers could be our further gear,” Hamilton addressed the lots. “I hope we could have a number of enjoyable collectively.”
The seven-time Formulation 1 world champion has damaged practically each file within the globe-trotting motor sport in his 18-year profession — from crossing the end line first on 105 events and smashing lap instances to changing into the primary (and, to this point, solely) Black driver in Formulation 1.
Hamilton achieved most of those minimal brake moments whereas driving for Mercedes for 12 seasons, aside from one out-of-reach trophy: turning seven championship titles into the legendary record-setting eight.
Race winner Lewis Hamilton of Nice Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates profitable a seventh F1 World Drivers Championship on the rostrum through the Grand Prix of Turkey on November 15, 2020 in Istanbul.
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The 40-year-old race automotive driver, effectively previous the game’s typical retirement age, is assured he can clinch an eighth Formulation 1 World Drivers’ Championship with the oldest outfit within the sport: Ferrari. Hamilton joined probably the most profitable crew in Formulation 1 historical past in January and he’ll make his race debut alongside Charles Leclerc on Sunday in Melbourne because the 2025 Formulation 1 season commences on the Australian Grand Prix.
The $100 million Ferrari-Hamilton deal just isn’t solely each events’ reply to quenching a championship thirst — Ferrari hasn’t received one in practically twenty years — but additionally the game’s answer for continued relevance.
The European racing competitors has captured the eye of Individuals over the previous six years thanks largely to Netflix’s “Drive to Survive,” a soapy docuseries detailing the on and off-track lives of Formulation 1’s 20 drivers. After the collection launched in 2019, race viewership leaped from 490 million throughout the 2018 season to 1.9 billion a 12 months later. Formulation 1 turned the most well-liked international yearly sporting collection in 2024 with 750 million followers, in line with Nielsen Sports activities. (Extra proof of the curiosity: the U.S. went from having only one Grand Prix in 2018 to now internet hosting three races once more this season).
Carlos Sainz of Spain driving (55) the Ferrari follows Lando Norris of Nice Britain within the McLaren through the Dash forward of the F1 Grand Prix of United States at Circuit of The Americas on October 19, 2024 in Austin, Texas.
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Hamilton was effectively forward of Formulation 1’s American conquest: sitting in Vogue Week entrance rows alongside Kardashians, gracing American journal covers and strolling film premiere pink carpets lengthy earlier than the game first unfurled its personal on the 2025 season launch occasion in February.
He’ll produce “F1,” a movie starring Brad Pitt, host the Met Gala and be the face of Lululemon in 2025. On observe, he’ll try to hitch the title struggle for the primary time since 2021.
“That is probably the most optimistic feeling I’ve had in a very long time,” Hamilton stated concerning the new automotive at pre-season testing in late February. “I’ve at all times imagined what it will be like sitting within the cockpit surrounded by pink,” he added earlier that month.
Hamilton just isn’t the primary driver to try to satisfy a childhood dream by ending his racing profession in typical midlife disaster type — in his 40s with a model new Ferrari and a second household. However none have achieved an eighth title in Rosso Corsa pink, the crew’s signature shade someplace between Strawberry Fanta and firetruck.
Championship contenders Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Crimson Bull Racing and Lewis Hamilton of Nice Britain and Mercedes GP stand in entrance of the F1 World Drivers Championship Trophy on the grid earlier than the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi on December 12, 2021 in United Arab Emirates.
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Regardless of Hamilton changing into probably the most adorned driver beneath Mercedes, he was within the midst of the longest win drought in his profession when he introduced the transfer throughout the pitlane a 12 months in the past. After profitable seven consecutive championships, six with Mercedes, he was set to say a never-been-done-before eighth in 2021. Then a 24-year-old Dutch driver sped forward in a contested, last-minute rule change on the waning laps of the ultimate race of the season. Max Verstappen’s Crimson Bull crossed the end line first and hasn’t ceased rushing 30 seconds forward of the sector for the previous three years.
Verstappen’s continued dominance, profitable 19 of twenty-two races in 2023, and securing his fourth consecutive world championship final season, resulted in a success to the game’s recognition. Headlines claimed that the foul-mouthed prodigy was “killing” the game and that American audiences have been tuning the high-octane sport out as viewership dipped. When Hamilton introduced a once-in-a-generation crew swap paired with Verstappen’s loosening grip on unprecedented efficiency in 2024, the timing sheet appeared to tighten. Hamilton proved he was nonetheless a winner final season – claiming his house race, the British Grand Prix.
The union of two establishments bigger than the game itself — The Billion Greenback Man and The Prancing Horse — set off a collection of driver trades. With solely 20 seats, one shift can have ripple results. When the largest identify within the sport jumps groups, a tsunami hits.
The transfer carved out an empty area at Mercedes within the form of 18-year-old Italian wunderkind Kimi Antonelli and left Spanish driver Carlos Sainz, one of many sport’s present nice drivers, with no future at Ferrari. Six rookie drivers will compete within the sport this 12 months, due to Hamilton’s transfer.
The result’s what insiders and followers alike are calling the closest Formulation 1 season in latest historical past.
It is nonetheless an odd sight — seeing Lewis Hamilton in Ferrari pink after so a few years of Mercedes black. As Hamilton begins the 2025 Formulation 1 season with Ferrari on the Australian Grand Prix, his followers hope he can return to greatness.
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The reality of that assertion can be put to the check when Hamilton traces up his new Ferrari in entrance of the 5 pink lights on Sunday on the Australian Grand Prix. The group, bordering the road observe, will dwarf Milan and don extra than simply the colour pink.
Nonetheless, because the lights exit and engines flip over, a crimson carbon fiber machine will demand consideration.
