Lewis Hamilton in Maranello next week, says Ferrari CEO
Lewis Hamilton will visit Maranello for the first time next week, Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna confirmed at a press conference.
The CEO of Ferrari, Benedetto Vigna, has confirmed that Lewis Hamilton will make his highly anticipated arrival at the headquarters of the Italian team next week.
The seven-time world champion has joined Ferrari from Mercedes in the most sensational driver transfer in F1 history. This announcement, made last February, sent shockwaves through the paddock, and the pairing between F1’s most iconic team and the sport’s most successful driver has been a hot topic for a year.
Read also: Why is Lewis Hamilton’s transfer to Ferrari really the transfer of the century?
Imminent beginnings
Amid the excitement surrounding Lewis Hamilton’s first public appearance with Ferrari, the Italian media are suggesting Monday, January 20 as the date for his first visit to the team’s headquarters in Maranello.
Lewis Hamilton is expected to drive an old Ferrari car later in the week to facilitate his integration into his new team.
During a press conference in Milan presenting a partnership between Ferrari and UniCredit, Benedetto Vigna did not provide a specific date but confirmed that the Briton will make his debut at Maranello next week.
« There is a lot of enthusiasm and a great desire to start », said Benedetto Vigna. « Lewis will be with us at Ferrari next week. We are finalizing the last details. »
« Expectations are high, we are ready for almost anything. We will ensure everything is in place. Changes are always wonderful. »
Maranello in a frenzy before his arrival
Lewis Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari should cause a real buzz in the streets of Maranello.
Italian journalist Roberto Chinchero speaks of a Hamilton mania that has already started in the country before his arrival. He anticipates a reinforced police presence to manage the large crowds expected near the Ferrari headquarters.
A sort of Hamilton mania has already started in Italy, said Roberto Chinchero on the James Allen podcast. Since the beginning of the year, a big question has been stirring Italian Ferrari fans: when will Lewis Hamilton’s first test in a Ferrari take place?
« I can’t imagine the number of people who will gather around the circuit. I expect the streets of Maranello and Fiorano to be crowded with people. »
« It will be something we haven’t seen in years. It will be a big job for the police in Maranello. But I’m not surprised. All the national media, not just sports media, give a lot of coverage to Lewis Hamilton. »
« The mainstream media tells who Lewis is, his passions, his interests, the story of his career and his desire to finish this career at the wheel of a Ferrari », he concludes.
