Mark Mann-Bryans: Hamilton Ferrari love-in must now become strictly business at Australian Grand Prix

It appears unusual to recommend, after successful six world championships and a few 84 grand prix with Mercedes, that Lewis Hamilton wanted a brand new lease of life in System 1 – however that’s precisely what he has loved since shifting to Ferrari.

The information of his change to Italy was introduced over a 12 months in the past however now he has swapped his silver arrow for a prancing horse, there’s a renewed vigour to Hamilton, even on the cusp of his nineteenth season in F1.

He has accomplished a lot to construct an prompt relationship along with his new staff and its well-known fanbase, which flocked en masse to Fiorano on a cold, foggy January morning to watch Hamilton complete 30 steady laps in old machinery.

However the event additionally meant one thing to Hamilton, each his mom and father had been in attendance as he donned the crimson race swimsuit (exterior of a photoshoot) for the primary time.

The very fact he had already posted an image of him carrying his new overalls, breaking the F1-corner of the web within the course of, was one other instance of how he was being welcomed into the Ferrari fold.

Probably the most-liked F1 picture within the historical past of Instagram and a picture that instantly showed his financial worth to the team, social media lapped up the content material, with Hamilton additionally snapped exterior Enzo Ferrari’s historic dwelling, draped in Italian vogue and in entrance of an F40 – a veritable easter egg hunt for followers.

His Duolingo clearly having taken a battering over the winter, Hamilton then turned his hand to talking Italian in entrance of the Ferrari manufacturing facility crew – he at all times knew what he wanted to decide to, particularly given how ingrained within the staff’s tradition his new team-mate Charles Leclerc already is, to make the transition as easy as doable.

Away from his new staff, Hamilton has additionally began to dwell his finest life and, at 40, in all probability turned one of many oldest TikTok customers when he arrange his new account on the eve of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, amassing 245,000 followers in lower than a day.

How chilled is the knight of the realm? Nicely, posting a video of him ‘showing’ in considered one of his favorite films, ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ and roping in Hollywood actor Ed Norton alongside him exhibits he’s having loads of enjoyable – though possibly proof that it was clever for Hamilton’s position within the upcoming F1 movie to be largely behind the digicam…

Nonetheless, the nice will, the lengthy welcome, the crimson carpet and – most significantly – the hopes pinned on him to ship a primary drivers’ title to Maranello since 2007 (by the way the 12 months he debuted within the championship) will all shortly dissipate if he doesn’t ship on observe.

For all of his record-equalling seven titles, Hamilton is up in opposition to a robust, assured, quick team-mate in Leclerc, whereas his considerably alarming drop-off in qualifying efficiency may even want addressing.

Pre-season testing typically yields little correlation to efficiency as soon as the chips are down, though Hamilton setting the second-fastest time throughout the three days can have been a lift.

To Albert Park, then, the place the Hamilton/Ferrari journey begins in earnest.

A observe the place he has received solely twice (2008 and 2015), victory is not going to be anticipated of him this time round, given the tempo of the McLarens, however a robust displaying when it issues will begin Hamilton off on the suitable foot.

The newest stage of the latter a part of his glittering profession has began with type phrases, iconic imagery and Matthew Broderick however now has to modify to pure efficiency on the observe.

It may be a problem however, as Hamilton riffs in his modern-day Ferris Bueller cameo earlier than driving off in a Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder: “Calm down. You fellas don’t have anything to fret about, I’m knowledgeable.”