Hamilton amazed by the 'Ferrari magic': "It's beautiful to see"

Since the mega news broke that Lewis Hamilton would be joining Ferrari from Mercedes before the 2024 season got underway, there was a huge amount of anticipation, not just in Maranello and Italy, but throughout the whole Formula 1 world. Now, the seven-time world champion is well and truly a Ferrari driver, and the sense of euphoria that was apparent on Hamilton's first day in Italy is still strong.

Hamilton and Mercedes became a dominant force in the world of F1, winning six drivers' titles and eight constructors' championships in their time together. However, after the heartbreak of the 2021 season, they were unable to fight at the front of the grid again, resulting in one of the biggest driver transfers the sport has ever seen, bringing the 40-year-old to Ferrari.

On his first day at Maranello, hundreds of fans lined the streets to see the Brit, with many others also surrounding the Fiorano circuit to see his first-ever Ferrari test. Hamilton himself has also been very open about how thrilled and excited he is to be donning the famous scarlet race suit and racing behind the wheel of the Prancing Horse.

Hamilton on the "incredible" Ferrari atmosphere

A reason for the excitement and joy that Hamilton is feeling at his new team is thanks to the 'Ferrari magic', with the Brit amazed by his first few weeks at the Scuderia, saying it had lived up to his expectations: "I think it's one thing seeing it from outside, but then when you're actually in it, it's pretty extreme, it's pretty incredible."

"Just from seeing, speaking to the whole team, seeing the whole team at the factory, all in one space, for example, and just seeing how passionate and excited everyone was, walking around all the different departments, and people who just live and breathe Ferrari, it's what you grow up dreaming of, getting to work there. Those smaller places, the towns in Italy where they've grown up dreaming of one day being there, how proud they are to work there and how much pride they take in their work is really beautiful to see," continued the Brit.

Of course, the Tifosi is another special element that comes with being a Ferrari driver, and it's another part of the 'Ferrari magic' that Hamilton can't wait to be a part of, as he concluded by saying, "I could see it obviously watching Charles and Carlos over the years, and with Sebastian. But to be on the receiving end of it, it's a new experience that today, I couldn't have imagined exactly."

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