If Lewis Hamilton might select a single venue to say victory as a Ferrari driver subsequent season, Silverstone would probably prime his listing. The British Grand Prix is a circuit the place he has triumphed a file 9 occasions, however successful in Ferrari crimson would maintain an unmatched significance for the seven-time champion.
An in depth second, nevertheless, would undoubtedly be Monza. For any Ferrari driver, the Italian Grand Prix is a sacred milestone. Final yr, Charles Leclerc earned his second profession victory on the iconic circuit, 5 years after his first. The electrifying celebrations with the Tifosi, Ferrari’s passionate fanbase, create an environment that’s merely unparalleled in motorsport.
Lewis Hamilton, nevertheless, hasn’t tasted victory at Monza since 2018, a stunning dry spell given his dominant observe file. It took him till 2012 to safe his first Italian Grand Prix win, and his relationship with the occasion stays difficult.
The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola, scheduled for mid-Might, may also draw the Tifosi in droves. Although a beloved occasion for Ferrari followers, its future seems unsure, with Imola anticipated to fall off the F1 calendar after the 2025 season.
Lewis Hamilton’s Strained Historical past with Monza’s Podium Celebrations
Again in 2019, Hamilton was cruising towards his sixth world title, getting into the Italian Grand Prix with a commanding 65-point lead over teammate Valtteri Bottas. In the meantime, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari’s rising star, wasn’t a contender within the championship struggle however managed to ship back-to-back victories at Spa-Francorchamps and Monza, thrilling the house crowd.
Ending third at Monza that yr, the British driver confronted an enthusiastic Ferrari celebration because the crew savored its first dwelling win since 2010. When requested if he loved the rostrum scenes, Lewis Hamilton’s response underscored his uneasy relationship with the Tifosi. He remarked that their therapy of him was harsher than for another driver, reinforcing a long-standing pressure between the British champion and Ferrari’s loyal supporters.
In an interview with Viaplay within the media pen, Lewis Hamilton defined that his dislike for the Monza podium had nothing to do with dropping. He described it because the worst podium expertise for him personally, citing the overwhelming boos he obtained from the group, which he believed have been the loudest any driver in historical past had ever endured. This, he stated, made the event removed from pleasant.
Hamilton’s victories at Monza in 2017 and 2018 have been met with a less-than-warm reception from the Tifosi, mirroring the boos Sebastian Vettel endured in 2013 throughout his dominance with Pink Bull. This hostility was not distinctive to Hamilton however fairly a mirrored image of Ferrari followers’ passionate allegiance to their crew and rivals who stood of their means.
Why Lewis Hamilton’s First Ferrari Take a look at Might Be a Safety Problem
Hamilton’s long-standing dream of driving for Ferrari, a objective he has held for 20 years, lastly grew to become actuality in a transfer that shocked many within the Method 1 world. Now, those self same followers who as soon as jeered him at Monza are prone to develop into his most enthusiastic supporters, desirous to cheer him on as he dons Ferrari crimson.
Whereas the boos he confronted at Monza have been unlikely private—Vettel skilled related therapy—it’s price noting that Hamilton started his F1 profession locked in fierce championship battles towards Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa. These early rivalries left a mark and contributed to the stress between Hamilton and the Ferrari trustworthy. But, regardless of the historical past, one journalist means that “Hamilton mania” has already taken maintain in Italy.
This fervor is anticipated to culminate in a chaotic scene when Hamilton takes to the Fiorano observe for his first Ferrari check within the coming weeks. Reviews point out that streets close to the circuit are prone to be full of followers desirous to catch a glimpse of the seven-time world champion’s debut in Ferrari colours, which might pose logistical challenges for the native police. The occasion marks the start of what could possibly be a transformative chapter in Ferrari’s storied historical past.
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