It had a religiosity about it. Indeed, one mystic imbued the shot with cosmic significance, equating the seven windows in view with the number of Hamilton’s world titles.
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Read MoreThis is a pairing of historic dimension, the sport’s most successful driver at the wheel of its most storied marque, emulating the position carved by Michael Schumacher two decades ago. The difference then was Schumacher and Ferrari were in the F1 vanguard. Hamilton has won just two races since 2021, and 18 years have passed since a Ferrari driver last wore the crown.
Englishman Rob Smedley made the same journey in 2004, joining the Ferrari test team from Jordan before assuming the role of race engineer to Felipe Massa.
“The big difference is the culture and the environment. It is difficult to compare to any other team. It’s like playing for the national football team. It means a great deal,” he tells The i Paper.
“Ferrari gives you that, and it will give Lewis that. It’s a cliché when they say it’s like a family, but it is. There is an unwritten contract in families that I’m going to help you out. And you feel that. Lewis has already felt it.”
Lewis Hamilton drove around the Fiorano circuit as part of the TPC tests (Photo: Reuters)“Lewis gets that one billion times bigger than I ever did, and that gives you energy, it gives you power, helping you to deliver that extra one percent. When you are having a bad day and have millions of people behind you, which is what Lewis will have, that will give him even more energy.”
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Read More“Lewis brings that extra few per cent that I talk about. Ferrari need to go from being a very good team, which is where they are now, winning grands prix, to become a great team that starts winning world championships” Smedley adds.
Smedley saw at Silverstone last year, where Hamilton resumed the top step of the podium for the first time since 2021, how the old flame still ignites in a responsive motor. “When he is on his game he is still unbeatable. This is why he needed to make this move so that he is motivated like he was in his last dominant period.
And, Smedley believes, the arrangement can be good for Charles Leclerc too. “Charles is a driver who needs to make the step from being excellent to great. Lewis can help him do that.
F1 driver Lewis Hamilton wearing the Ferrari suit (Photo: AFP)
Former team principal at Force India, Racing Point and Alpine, Otmar Szafnauer argues that the coupling of Ferrari and Hamilton is so irresistibly Hollywood everyone benefits. “For the neutral the arrival of a seven times world champion at Ferrari clearly adds something, gives everyone a lift,” he tells The i Paper.
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Read More“Lewis is clearly an exceptional talent and still capable. What you may lose in speed with age you make up with experience. Though I have never worked with him inside a team, I respect him for the hard work he puts in, for his ability and his achievements. And what I really like about him he has done it in a fair manner. He would not take you out to win a world championship.
Hamilton will not feel the new car under him until next month’s pre-season test in Bahrain. The Fiorano laps were all about getting a sense of things, a low key entre into Ferrari systems, basic car function, seating position, etc.
“Lewis is still hungry to perform and wants to win world championships,” Szafnauer adds.
“If Lewis is within a tenth or two in qualifying he will be fine. As we saw he was often behind George in qualifying but made up for it in the race where his experience shows. If it’s half a second that could be a problem. But it’s an exciting match-up for sure and great for the sport.”
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