Formula 1 record world champion Lewis Hamilton’s first test drive for Ferrari sends Maranello into delirium: the region is threatened with traffic chaos on Wednesday. The Brit is looking forward to his debut.
Lewis Hamilton mania is breaking out in Italy. The Formula 1 record world champion’s first test drive on Wednesday at Ferrari’s home track in Fiorano sent the Tifosi into ecstasy.
As “Motorsport.com” Italy reports, all hotel rooms in the Maranello region are fully booked. According to the report, Maranello’s mayor Luigi Zironi is said to have requested additional police officers from the surrounding cities and municipalities so that road traffic in the Ferrari home does not come to a standstill.
Hamilton, who celebrated his 40th birthday on January 7th, will drive the F1-75 from the 2022 season on Wednesday – the first Ferrari under the current technical regulations. The Brit arrived in Maranello on Monday morning and was very impressed.
Formula 1: Hamilton raves about his first day as a Ferrari driver
“There are days that you will remember forever, and today, my first as a Ferrari driver, is one of those days,” said Hamilton in an Instagram post: “I was lucky enough in my career Achieving things I never thought possible, but a part of me has always held on to the dream of racing in red. I couldn’t be happier to be able to make that dream come true today.”
For Hamilton, Monday was primarily about getting a first impression of the Ferrari factory in Maranello and getting to know his future employees.
However, there were already the first tasks to do – such as adjusting the seat, a first practical test with the steering wheel modified according to Hamilton’s ideas in the simulator and a first photo shoot in a Ferrari outfit.
The presentation of the Ferrari car with which Hamilton and his future teammate Charles Leclerc will compete for the Drivers’ and Constructors’ World Championships in 2025 is scheduled for February 19th.