Ferrari tease Lewis Hamilton’s eighth world title but won’t break 18-year Michael Schumacher precedent

Hamilton was mobbed by Ferrari fans in FioranoCredit: Getty

The 40-year-old stunned the world of motorsport last February by confirming he will leave Mercedes to join the Scuderia in 2025.

The Brit won six drivers’ titles en route to helping the Silver Arrows claim eight constructors’ championships in the most successful partnership that F1 has ever seen.

However, ahead of last season, Hamilton activated a release clause in his $55 million contract to take a pay cut and head to Ferrari.

Having almost waited a full year to complete the switch, Hamilton was finally unveiled with the Italian team on Monday.

He wrote on Instagram: “There are some days that you know you’ll remember forever and today, my first as a Ferrari driver, is one of those days.

“I’ve been lucky enough to have achieved things in my career I never thought possible, but part of me has always held on to that dream of racing in red. I couldn’t be happier to realise that dream today.

Hamilton posed for pictures alongside the $2.5million (£2m) Ferrari F40, also currently owned by McLaren’s Lando Norris.

The former was stationed outside Enzo Ferrari’s old house, with F1 fans believing the Italian team were making a subtle nod to their new signing’s title ambitions.

Hamilton won the most recent of his seven world titles in 2020Credit: Scuderia Ferrari/Handout Photo/PA Wire

Seven windows of the Maranello mansion to represent Hamilton’s corresponding championships were pictured wide open in one shot.

Also included in the first official Ferrari photo was a door to the eighth – exactly what the Brit is hoping to achieve this season.

Ferrari said Hamilton was given a tour of the factory with team boss Frederic Vasseur and chief executive officer Benedetto Vigna.

He was shown around ‘the Fiorano house and the pit garage, including a look at the famous office, from where (founder) Enzo Ferrari would watch his team at work’.

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The statement added: “Hamilton then returned to the Scuderia HQ, where he met the management team and (vice-chairman) Piero Ferrari, before embarking on a daylong total immersion programme, visiting all the various departments to get to know the team.

“The work continues tomorrow with more technical meetings and briefings as preparations get underway for what will be a very busy season.”

Hamilton was visibly excited during his first trip to the Fiorano CircuitCredit: Getty

Hamilton has already ruled out becoming only the second Formula 1 star ever to move into Enzo’s old stomping ground despite rumours to the contrary last year.

Reports from Italy suggested he would be emulating F1‘s only other seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher in being granted the highest Tifosi honour to ensure his transition to life in Italy is as seamless as possible over the winter months.

Sky Sport Italia commentator Carlo Vanzini, speaking on Roberto Chincero’s Twitch channel, claimed: “Lewis will live in Enzo Ferrari’s house.

“He’ll have it as a base of support when he goes to Fiorano. Since the times of Schumacher, no driver has had this privilege.

Ferrari tease Lewis Hamilton unveiling with F1 fans sent into overdrive

“I also think it was the right choice, because I believe for a character like Lewis, to move publicly is already difficult.”

However, speaking ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix in November, Hamilton said: “It was not something I was talking about.

“I look forward to one day getting to see the building and the legendary room because that’s still the same as when he was there.

“But no, I don’t think I would stay there.”

Enzo Ferrari’s old quarters once housed SchumacherCredit: Getty

It was built in the midst of the team’s Fiorano test trackCredit: Getty

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Hamilton, who has confirmed he is learning Italian to better integrate himself with Ferrari, already has an incredible property portfolio.

Growing up in Stevenage, Hamilton still has roots in England having purchased an £18m mansion in Kensington in 2017.

He also has glamorous pads in New York, Geneva – and of course, Monaco, which has become the home for nearly all F1 drivers.

Hamilton won’t be adding Enzo’s house by Ferrari’s Fiorano test circuit to his arsenal.

The notoriously misanthropic ‘il Commendatore’ was all-consumed by his love of cars rather than the drivers behind the wheel.

His Fiorano test track was built in 1972 on land he’d snapped up in the decade before next to the Ferrari factory in Maranello.

Only one driver has been allowed to live in the Ferrari founder’s old homeCredit: Getty

‘Il Drake’ resided in a converted farmhouse close enough that he could see his new cars wheeled directly from the workshop to the track for testing.

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Enzo’s old office has been preserved to near enough how he left it prior to his death in August 1988. 

It still contains the disused black and white television on which ‘l’Ingegnere’ watched Grands Prix after he stopped attending races.

To this day, buyers of LaFerrari and F80 – Ferrari’s new supercar – are not even allowed to enter.

The last of this type to do this was luxury jewellery owner and Ferrari Ambassador David Lee, who boasts a $50m ‘Red Devil’ Collection.

Schumacher’s run of five straight titles has made him synonymous with FerrariCredit: Getty

The three-story house has been painted in the famous team redCredit: Getty

Fiorano has streets named after Schumacher, Gilles Villeneuve and Alberto AscariCredit: Getty

“For sure, really was THE champion Michael,” Pierro told former F1 world champion Damon Hill on Sky Sports F1.

“Really was very professional, was very brave, was very intelligent. My father for sure, [would have been] very happy to have a driver like him. You know Michael was sleeping here upstairs! I never saw a guy like him really. So concentrated in what he was doing.”

Nevertheless, Hamilton will attempt to follow in Schumacher’s footsteps in other ways to end F1’s most successful team’s long wait for a title after serial winners have failed before him.

World champions Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso both failed to land a title with the Scuderia, albeit Hamilton primarily being responsible for that, with their last success in 2007 thanks to Kimi Raikkonen.