Lewis Hamilton has described his first official day at Ferrari as the realization of a lifelong dream, promising a “new era” for the team.
The seven-time Formula One world champion surprised the motorsport world last year with the announcement that he would be joining Ferrari this season after spending 12 years with Mercedes.
On Monday, Hamilton spent much of his first day at Ferrari’s factory in Maranello, Italy, where he met several of his new teammates. The 40-year-old, dressed in a black suit, also posed for photos beside a Ferrari F40 supercar.
Hamilton shared his excitement on Instagram, saying, “There are some days that you know you’ll remember forever, and today, my first as a Ferrari driver, is one of those days.”
He continued, “I’ve been fortunate to accomplish things in my career that I never thought possible, but part of me has always dreamed of racing in red. I couldn’t be happier to realize that dream today.”
Hamilton added, “Today, we begin a new chapter in the history of this legendary team, and I’m eager to see what story we’ll create together.”
Hamilton, who shares the record for the most F1 world titles with Michael Schumacher, joined Mercedes in 2013 after starting his career with McLaren in 2007.
He won six of his seven world titles with Mercedes before activating a release clause in his contract last year, opting to replace Carlos Sainz at Ferrari.
Reflecting on his time at Mercedes, Hamilton stated he had no regrets. He shared, “We created history together. I don’t focus on what we could have done more because there’s nothing else we could’ve done. We built great bonds and friendships.”
Hamilton will now partner with Charles Leclerc at Ferrari, as the team aims to win its first driver’s world title since 2007.
“I’m thrilled to begin this new chapter and to meet and collaborate with such a talented and inspiring team, who have made me feel so welcome,” Hamilton wrote in another Instagram post on Monday.
He added, “I’m fully committed to giving my all to deliver for the team, the broader organization, and the fans.”
The upcoming season will kick off with the Australian Grand Prix on March 16, with testing scheduled for Bahrain from February 26 to 28.
