The Italian press are a few of the most revered figures within the Formulation 1 paddock. For many years their opinions have held sway and dictated the result of many debates. Ferrari itself is steeped in ardour and enthusiasm; the Scuderia is a nationwide icon.
Now, with the arrival of Lewis Hamilton on the nation’s most well-known sporting workforce, what has been the response of the press and the followers?
Right here we ask the writers at Motorsport.com Italy for his or her tackle Hamilton’s first few weeks as a Ferrari driver. What has impressed them most? How he has been obtained by the general public? Will he come below scrutiny from the Italian media as he tries to steer Ferrari again to world championship glory?
Contributors: Roberto Chinchero, Franco Nugnes, Giacomo Rauli, Gianluca d’Alessandro
Picture by: Getty Pictures
How did the Italian public react to Hamilton becoming a member of the workforce?
Roberto Chinchero: I do not keep in mind something like this up to now. Ferrari is used to – if not spoiled by – champions becoming a member of the workforce. We noticed Fernando Alonso are available in, Sebastian Vettel. And Michael Schumacher earlier than that. And he turned a legend with Ferrari. The distinction with Lewis is that he is already a legend, and he is coming to marry one other legend.
And the response of the followers has been extraordinary. The day he drove the brand new automotive at Fiorano for the primary time, there have been 7,000 folks there to witness it, and that has by no means occurred earlier than. It is a observe with no grandstands, it was a Wednesday, it was throughout working hours, it was actually chilly – and but folks began arriving at 5am to get a greater spot. That tells you one thing.
Franco Nugnes: Formulation 1 had lengthy disappeared from the information and the entrance pages, however now it’s totally a lot again to the best way it was with Gilles Villeneuve within the early 80s. Hamilton has managed to win over the followers, but in addition the employees at Ferrari. They now dangle on his each phrase.
And that’s no shock: Lewis was already extremely revered as a seven-time F1 world champion, though till final yr he was seen by many as a potential “usurper” of Michael Schumacher’s data. Now that he has arrived in Maranello, nonetheless, the angle has utterly modified: he’s seen as the person who will deliver the Prancing Horse again to glory and proceed the Kaiser’s work.
He is completely happy, he is excited – and that interprets to the followers as a result of they really feel they’re sharing the identical dream with Lewis: to see him win with Ferrari
Gianluca d’Alessandro: He has introduced again a whole lot of pleasure, not solely from the followers but in addition from the mainstream media, partly as a result of his transfer additionally confirmed {that a} driver of such calibre needed to simply accept the Ferrari problem, stay the dream and win with it, after so a few years by which different champions hadn’t achieved the title.
No one in Italy thought it might occur earlier than the tip of his profession. We thought he’d finish his F1 story with Mercedes, however as a substitute he is coming to Maranello. And he is completely happy, he is excited, and that interprets to the followers as a result of they really feel they’re sharing the identical dream with Lewis: to see him win with Ferrari. They really feel that Lewis is coming to Maranello as a result of he needs to make historical past.
Picture by: Ferrari
Have you ever been significantly impressed by his angle?
Roberto Chinchero: The primary day he arrived at Maranello, he was there along with his mother and father. You do not try this except it means one thing very particular to you. You need to share these moments with these closest ones, and we noticed that Anthony was there, Lewis’ mother was filming him together with her cellphone. She was there when he went out to satisfy the followers. That claims rather a lot. Not only for Lewis, however for the Italian followers. They see how passionate he’s, and it resonates. As a result of he’s a seven-time world champion. He does not should do all this stuff. However you possibly can see how a lot of a dream it’s for him.
For me, there have been 4 drivers on the F1 75 who regarded essentially the most excited and flattered to be there: Gabriel Bortoleto, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Isack Hadjar and Lewis Hamilton. It is nearly like he is experiencing a rookie degree of pleasure. And I do not assume Lewis is that good of an actor. It seems to be like that is how he actually feels. He is been fortunate sufficient to realize a whole lot of his goals in F1, however now he is residing one other one.
What he should keep in mind in the long term, nonetheless, is that Maranello has by no means favored those that threaten to overshadow the Ferrari legend
Franco Nugnes: Hamilton’s communication abilities are extraordinary: within the house of some days he has develop into the focal point within the Ferrari world. He went to essentially the most distant corners of the racing division, shaking palms and signing autographs, dragging John Elkann to locations the president had by no means been earlier than. He additionally instantly launched himself to the Italian followers, displaying a real need for dialogue.
What he should keep in mind in the long term, nonetheless, is that Maranello has by no means favored those that threaten to overshadow the Ferrari legend.
Giacomo Rauli: I personally do not assume there’s any motive to be significantly impressed along with his look and angle, as a result of Lewis is a seven-time world champion, he has been in F1 since 2007. He is aware of how essential it’s to get the workforce on his facet and to be accepted by the followers. He is a wise man. He’ll be sharing a storage with Charles, who not solely has been a Ferrari driver since 2019, however was additionally a part of the Academy. And if he needs to steer the workforce, that is the one approach to do it.
Picture by: Ferrari
How rapidly will he adapt to working with a workforce that isn’t primarily based in England?
Roberto Chinchero: Once we discuss concerning the workforce construction, I do not assume there’s a lot that is completely different from different groups. As a result of the best way they work now could be very related. And even the folks: sure, it’s an Italian workforce, however the employees is from all around the world. There are many British, German and French folks at Ferrari.
What is likely to be completely different is that at Ferrari you are much more within the highlight and the strain is considerably higher. However I believe will probably be extra of a problem for Leclerc. As a result of Lewis got here to Ferrari to complete his profession in F1, and Charles has to show that he’s the long run.
Giacomo Rauli: I do not assume it is a huge downside for Lewis as a result of, sure, he is a British driver, however he is, shall we embrace, a person of the world. He lives in Monte Carlo, he travels, he is skilled completely different cultures. Quite the opposite, I am fairly certain he’ll benefit from the workforce and the surroundings.
He will not have Bono by his facet, who understood him completely. He’ll should construct a relationship with Riccardo Adami and all the opposite folks round him
Gianluca d’Alessandro: Whereas there could also be some variations between the British groups and an Italian one, the best way of working these days could be very related, if not similar. What Lewis should get used to is the folks – and I do not assume will probably be very completely different from what he skilled when he moved from McLaren to Mercedes. He will not have Bono [Peter Bonnington, Hamilton’s race engineer at Mercedes], who understood him completely, by his facet. He’ll should construct a relationship with Riccardo Adami and all the opposite folks round him – and that may take time.
Picture by: Ferrari
Will the Italian media put further strain on him to steer the workforce?
Franco Nugnes: Firstly, I believe Hamilton can be forgiven rather a lot as a result of he can be handled just like the saviour of a workforce that has not gained the world championship for 18 years. The workforce and the love of the followers will make it simpler for him to really feel like a Ferrari man.
Roberto Chinchero: All the pieces is incredible for the time being. He’s revered by the Italian media, they usually admire the best way he has launched himself to the Italian public and the Italian followers. The truth that he tries to talk Italian, even when his vocabulary is only some hundred phrases for the time being, can be appreciated.
Final yr, not everybody understood why Carlos Sainz was let go, however even he accepted that he wasn’t going to get replaced by some random driver. It is Lewis Hamilton he is giving his seat to. I believe what was tougher for Carlos to simply accept wasn’t that Hamilton was going to exchange him at Ferrari – it was that three different high groups had vacancies and did not name him.
However I believe everybody now accepts, together with the Italian media, that Hamilton and Ferrari is one thing particular. What occurs subsequent can be rather more concerning the stopwatch. However the first chapter of this story – the one with out engine noise – was good.
If Charles is overwhelmed by Lewis, the place does that depart him, even when he nonetheless has a long-term contract?
Gianluca d’Alessandro: I believe we are able to all agree that the media is a giant a part of the problem of being a Ferrari driver. As a result of in Italy there’s Ferrari and there is different groups. Individuals develop up and get hooked up to the game due to Ferrari, and even after they begin to realise that there’s something else past Ferrari in F1, it stays particular. And the eye it will get is nearly like a nationwide soccer workforce. So the strain is way greater. However I believe he is aware of how one can cope with the media, and I’m certain Ferrari will do every thing to guard him as a lot as potential.
And I’d agree that it is Leclerc who would possibly really feel essentially the most strain from the skin. Sure, Lewis has come to make historical past with Ferrari, however he is already a legend within the sport. Charles is without doubt one of the greatest drivers on the grid, he loves Ferrari dearly and, after so a few years of excessive hopes, he needs to be the motive force who brings the title again to Maranello. But when Charles is overwhelmed by Lewis, the place does that depart him, even when he nonetheless has a long-term contract? The place does that depart Ferrari for the long run? So he too has an enormous problem forward of him.
Picture by: Ferrari
On this article
Motorsport.com employees writers
Formulation 1
Lewis Hamilton
Charles Leclerc
Ferrari
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