Formula 1, which is often touted as the pinnacle of motorsport, has delivered countless iconic moments over the past century, but few could rival this: Sir Lewis Hamilton—sorry, Don Lewis Hamilton—standing outside Ferrari's factory in Maranello on his first day, in front of the iconic F40. Dressed to kill in a custom black double-breasted suit, a sweeping Ferragamo overcoat, and those unmistakable Christian Louboutin Caraca Boots (the red soles feel on theme now—wink, wink), he looked every bit the part.
“Today we start a new era in the history of this iconic team, and I can’t wait to see what story we will write together,” Hamilton posted on Instagram. Unsurprisingly, the post has become the most-liked Formula 1 photo on the platform.
After breaking the F1 internet, Ferrari’s social handles gave us the behind-the-scenes scoop. The day began at the Fiorano test track, where Hamilton was greeted by team principal Frédéric Vasseur and Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna. Against the backdrop of Enzo Ferrari’s house, in a square dedicated to Michael Schumacher, Hamilton soaked in the weight of history. “Even the weather seemed to roll out the red—or rather, grey—carpet,” a caption by Scuderia Ferrari’s IG read, referencing the drizzle that gave the day a distinctly British flavour, posing next to the Ferrari F40, which not only happens to be Hamilton’s favourite car but also the one that Lando Norris recently crashed.
But there might have been even more to Hamilton’s first Ferrari portrait than just the clothes. As F1 Pundit Sundaram Ramaswamy pointed out, the instantly iconic image of Hamilton in front of Enzo Ferrari's house featured seven open windows in the background—coincidentally, the number of world titles Hamilton has won. And then there’s the door, which could symbolize the potential opening to Hamilton’s elusive eighth world championship. A subtle but powerful reminder of the dream he’s chasing in scarlet red.
Hamilton toured the Fiorano house, peeking into Enzo’s legendary office, before returning to the Scuderia headquarters for a “day-long immersion program.” Alongside Piero Ferrari, Enzo’s son and the team’s vice-chairman, Hamilton met with the management team and visited key departments to familiarise himself with the inner workings of his new team.
Ferrari has yet to confirm when Hamilton will take his first laps in red, citing weather and an understandable desire to avoid an overwhelming crowd of Tifosi at Fiorano. However, rumours point to a midweek debut on the track. For now, Hamilton’s excitement—and Italy’s collective frenzy—continues to build.
One familiar face in Hamilton’s corner is Angela Cullen, his longtime performance coach, who has rejoined him as part of Project 44, a group supporting Hamilton’s on- and off-track endeavours. Their reunion sparked plenty of speculation after both posted photos from what appeared to be the same skiing holiday, featuring a subtle nod to Hamilton’s car number, 44.
Hamilton’s Ferrari chapter begins amid high stakes and sky-high expectations. His multi-season contract, rumoured to exceed £50 million annually, puts him alongside Charles Leclerc in one of F1’s most anticipated partnerships. With Ferrari’s new car set to launch on February 19 and radical new regulations looming in 2026, Hamilton has a golden opportunity to chase his eighth title—and perhaps, finally, the perfect swan song to his legendary career.
