Fittipaldi: Italy Will Standstill for Hamilton’s Ferrari debut………read more
Emerson Fittipaldi, a two-time Formula 1 World Champion, has made a bold prediction about Lewis Hamilton’s upcoming debut with Ferrari, suggesting that the entire nation of Italy will stop to watch the seven-time World Champion make his competitive debut with the Scuderia. Fittipaldi, speaking on the talkSPORT On Track podcast, highlighted the immense excitement surrounding the partnership between Hamilton and Ferrari, with both having iconic significance in the sport and global motorsport culture.
Ferrari is a national treasure in Italy, with a deeply rooted connection to the country’s pride and motorsport heritage. The team enjoys an unparalleled level of support and devotion from Italians, and the thought of Hamilton, who holds the record for the most F1 World Championships, driving for the team is generating immense anticipation. Fittipaldi emphasized that the significance of Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari would bring Italian fans to the edge of their seats. “You can imagine Lewis at Ferrari. The whole of Italy is going to stop on Sunday, to watch Lewis drive a Ferrari,” he said.
The excitement is amplified by the fact that Ferrari has not secured a Drivers’ Championship title since Kimi Räikkönen’s victory in 2007. This marks a pivotal moment for the team, as Hamilton aims to secure a record-breaking eighth World Championship. The pairing of Hamilton and Ferrari is viewed as a major milestone in F1, one that could spark a renaissance for the team and potentially lead them back to championship glory.
Fittipaldi further noted the significance of this move from a personal perspective for Hamilton. Describing the move as the ultimate challenge, he suggested that driving for Ferrari has always been the dream of every F1 driver, and for Hamilton, this chapter in his career is one of the most defining moments. “Lewis’ motivation is a challenge to have a new team like Ferrari,” Fittipaldi said. “Every driver has a dream to drive for Ferrari. And I think that at the stage of his life, to be able to go to Ferrari, with Frederic Vasseur, who was his team principal in Formula 3 and Formula 2… The family’s getting back together again, and that’s going to be a big challenge.”
Hamilton’s reunion with Vasseur, who played a key role in the early days of his career, adds another layer of excitement to the move. Frederic Vasseur is now Ferrari’s team principal, and the two share a long history, which only adds to the narrative surrounding Hamilton’s debut with the team.
The anticipation in Italy is already palpable, with what some are calling “Hamilton Mania” taking over the nation. As Hamilton is set to make his first official appearance for Ferrari on January 21 at the iconic Fiorano Circuit, the event is expected to draw huge crowds. Motorsport.com’s Italian journalist Robert Chinchero described the scene, predicting that the streets of Maranello and the area around the Fiorano Circuit will be flooded with fans. “It will create a spectacle not seen in years,” Chinchero said.
Authorities are bracing for the massive crowds, as thousands of Ferrari and Hamilton supporters are expected to gather to watch the British driver take his first laps in Ferrari red. The event is anticipated to be a celebration of monumental proportions, creating an atmosphere of excitement not seen in F1 for a long time. Chinchero humorously noted that managing the throngs of fans would be “hard work for the police,” acknowledging the frenzy that Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari has caused across Italy.
As the countdown to Hamilton’s Ferrari debut continues, all eyes will be on the Scuderia as they aim to return to the top of Formula 1 with their new star driver.
