Ferrari: Italian Fans Call for F1 Star to Be Sacked After Disappointing….read more
“Ferrari: Italian Fans Call for F1 Star to Be Sacked After Disappointing….read more
Lewis Hamilton’s highly anticipated move to Ferrari has not unfolded as smoothly as many had hoped, with the British driver now facing challenges reminiscent of those experienced by others in the past — particularly with the intense scrutiny of the Italian media.
While the 2024 Formula One season will be remembered for McLaren’s historic triumph in the Constructors’ Championship — their first in 26 years — and Max Verstappen’s record-equalling fourth consecutive Drivers’ Championship, the fading relationship between Hamilton and Mercedes remained a prominent story. The seven-time world champion’s exit marked the end of an era with the Silver Arrows, bringing an emotional close to one of the sport’s most successful partnerships.
Hamilton’s arrival at Maranello was met with enormous enthusiasm. Ferrari pulled out all the stops to welcome their new star, with local authorities declaring a “state of emergency” in anticipation of the crowds eager to greet their latest hero. The fanfare was immense, and Hamilton did not disappoint on his first day — turning heads in a stylish navy-striped three-piece suit by Ferragamo. Toto Wolff, Mercedes’ team principal, quipped that despite twelve years with the team, Hamilton had never once worn a suit for them — yet for Ferrari, he dressed to impress from day one.
However, behind the glitz and glamour lies a deeper cultural shift for Hamilton. Throughout his career, he has typically enjoyed top billing within his teams. Even as a rookie at McLaren, he famously went toe-to-toe with then-double world champion Fernando Alonso. At Mercedes, he carved out a near-mythical status, often commanding influence both on and off the track — even publicly challenging team leadership on occasion.
Ferrari, however, operates on an entirely different ethos. While Mercedes is a modern entity in the world of Formula One — having returned to the sport as a works team only in the 2010s after decades away following a tragic 1955 Le Mans accident — Ferrari is steeped in tradition. The Italian team has been a constant presence since the first-ever F1 race in 1950 and holds the record for the most wins in the sport’s history.
This legacy brings with it a very different internal culture, shaped by the vision of legendary founder Enzo Ferrari. In Maranello, no individual, no matter how successful, is bigger than the team. Former Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel once revealed to Der Spiegel in 2019 that even junior engineers are taught this philosophy from day one: “Not a single person is bigger than Ferrari.”
For Hamilton, adjusting to this environment may be his biggest challenge yet. The expectations are enormous, the spotlight unrelenting, and the team culture rooted in decades of tradition — one that may not easily bend to accommodate a driver used to being the centerpiece. As the 2025 season unfolds, only time will tell if Hamilton can find his place within the Scuderia and deliver the glory both he and Ferrari so desperately crave.
