Hamilton’s start at Ferrari, seen from Italy: How did fans and media react?

The Italian press are a few of the most revered figures within the System 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 group, 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 acquired by the general public? Will he come beneath scrutiny from the Italian media as he tries to guide Ferrari again to world championship glory?

Contributors: Roberto Chinchero, Franco Nugnes, Giacomo Rauli, Gianluca d’Alessandro

How did the Italian public react to Hamilton becoming a member of the group?

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 group. We noticed Fernando Alonso are available, 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 automobile at Fiorano for the primary time, there have been 7,000 individuals 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 individuals began arriving at 5am to get a greater spot. That tells you one thing.

Franco Nugnes: System 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 workers 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 doable “usurper” of Michael Schumacher’s information. Now that he has arrived in Maranello, nonetheless, the attitude has utterly modified: he’s seen as the person who will convey the Prancing Horse again to glory and proceed the Kaiser’s work.

Gianluca d’Alessandro: He has introduced again loads 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 wished to just accept the Ferrari problem, dwell the dream and win with it, after so a few years through which different champions hadn’t achieved the title.

No one in Italy thought it could occur earlier than the top of his profession. We thought he’d finish his F1 story with Mercedes, however as an alternative 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.

Photograph by: Ferrari

Have you ever been notably impressed by his perspective?

Roberto Chinchero: The primary day he arrived at Maranello, he was there along with his dad and mom. You do not try this except it means one thing very particular to you. You wish to share these moments with these closest ones, and we noticed that Anthony was there, Lewis’ mum was filming him along with her cellphone. She was there when he went out to fulfill the followers. That claims loads. 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 would not need to 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 F175 who regarded essentially the most excited and flattered to be there: Gabriel Bortoleto, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Isack Hadjar and Lewis Hamilton. It is virtually like he is experiencing a rookie degree of pleasure. And I do not suppose Lewis is that good of an actor. It seems like that is how he actually feels. He is been fortunate sufficient to attain loads of his goals in F1, however now he is residing one other one.

Franco Nugnes: Hamilton’s communication abilities are extraordinary: within the area of some days he has grow to be the centre of consideration within the Ferrari world. He went to essentially the most distant corners of the racing division, shaking arms 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, exhibiting 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 suppose there’s any purpose to be notably impressed along with his look and perspective, 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 group on his facet and to be accepted by the followers. He is a sensible 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 guide the group, that is the one method to do it.

Photograph by: Ferrari

How shortly will he adapt to working with a group that isn’t primarily based in England?

Roberto Chinchero: After we discuss concerning the group construction, I do not suppose there’s a lot that is completely different from different groups. As a result of the best way they work now may be very related. And even the individuals: sure, it’s an Italian group, however the workers is from everywhere in the world. There are many British, German and French individuals 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 larger. However I believe it is going to 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 longer term.

Giacomo Rauli: I do not suppose it is a massive downside for Lewis as a result of, sure, he is a British driver, however he is, let’s consider, 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 group and the setting.

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 may be very related, if not an identical. What Lewis must get used to is the individuals – and I do not suppose it is going to be very completely different from what he skilled when he moved from McLaren to Mercedes. He will not have Bono [Peter Bonnington, his former race engineer at Mercedes], who understood him completely, by his facet. He’ll need to construct a relationship with Riccardo Adami and all the opposite individuals round him – and that may take time.

Photograph by: Ferrari

Will the Italian media put additional strain on him to guide the group?

Franco Nugnes: Initially, I believe Hamilton will likely be forgiven loads as a result of he will likely be handled just like the saviour of a group that has not gained the world championship for 18 years. The group and the love of the followers will make it simpler for him to really feel like a Ferrari man.

Roberto Chinchero: The whole lot is improbable in the intervening time. He’s revered by the Italian media, they usually recognize 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 just a few hundred phrases in the intervening time, 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 more durable for Carlos to just accept wasn’t that Hamilton was going to switch 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 will likely be far more concerning the stopwatch. However the first chapter of this story – the one with out engine noise – was good.

Gianluca d’Alessandro: I believe we will 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. Folks 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 group. So the strain is way larger. However I believe he is aware of the best way to cope with the media, and I’m certain Ferrari will do all the pieces to guard him as a lot as doable.

And I’d agree that it is Leclerc who would possibly really feel essentially the most strain from the surface. Sure, Lewis has come to make historical past with Ferrari, however he is already a legend within the sport. Charles is among the finest drivers on the grid, he loves Ferrari dearly and, after so a few years of excessive hopes, he needs to be the driving 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 longer term? So he too has an enormous problem forward of him.

Photograph by: Ferrari