“One of the most beautiful sensations of my life”

Lewis Hamilton's 40th birthday will have had no effect on the childish smile he displayed throughout his public appearances this week. A smile that he showed even more this Wednesday afternoon, when he went to greet the crowd of fans gathered around the Fiorano circuit, where he had just experienced his very first run as a Ferrari driver.

In what is described by the Scuderia itself as “historic moment” in its press release, to the point of giving the exact time (9:16 a.m.), the Italian team does not fail to point out that the foggy weather was also present on November 16, 1995, when the future seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher made his debut in red that day.

Under the eyes of Piero Ferrari, vice-president of the brand, director Frédéric Vasseur, who played an essential role in his arrival, and his deputy Jérôme d'Ambrosio, as well as certain members of his family, including his mother , Hamilton therefore completed a first installation lap on rain tires before experiencing several stints on slick tires. As we announced to you at the start of the afternoon, the Briton completed 30 laps, or 89 km, time to make a first contact with the team's procedures and begin his collaboration with his new race engineer. , Riccardo Adami.

When reacting to this special day, Hamilton did not hide his emotion at this new “first” in his long career: “I've been lucky enough to experience many firsts in my career, from the first test to the first race, to the podium, to victory and to the championship title. So I didn't know how many more firsts I would have to experience, but driving a Scuderia Ferrari single-seater for the first time this morning was one of the greatest sensations of my life.”

“When I started the car and walked through the garage door I had the biggest smile on my face. It reminded me of the very first time I tested a Formula 1 car, it was such an exciting moment and special, and here I am, almost twenty years later, feeling these emotions again.”

I am so grateful for the love I felt from everyone in Maranello.

Emotions inevitably heightened by the fervor which accompanies this marriage between the most emblematic team in F1 and the driver with the most extensive track record: “I already knew, from the outside, how passionate the Ferrari family is, from the team members to the fans! But witnessing it firsthand as a Ferrari driver was a real source of inspiration. inspiration.”

“This passion runs through their veins and you can't help but draw energy from it. I'm so grateful for the love I felt from everyone in Maranello this week, we Lots of work to do but I can't wait to get started.”