A new era begins for Lewis Hamilton in 2025 as he joins Scuderia Ferrari HP to chase his eighth championship. The Formula One team celebrated the partnership by releasing a memorable photo.
The image features Hamilton dressed in all black and standing in front of a Ferrari and the Maranello Factory. The overcast weather and damp parking lot added a cinematic feel to the image. Some people on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, even referenced 1972's "The Godfather."
https://t.co/uZtdm9EBHM pic.twitter.com/73t2oQxW6n
— Formula 1 (@F1) January 20, 2025
"There are some days that you know you'll remember forever and today, my first as a Ferrari driver, is one of those days," Hamilton wrote on Instagram. "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.
"Today we start a new era in the history of this iconic team, and I can't wait to see what story we will write together."
Hamilton joining Ferrari is a major change in F1. The man with 102 career wins and seven championships kicked off his record-setting career with McLaren in 2007 and ended his rookie season second in the standings. He won his first championship in his second season.
Hamilton remained with McLaren through 2012 and then he moved to Mercedes. This kicked off the most successful portion of his career as he won six more titles. He posted six seasons with at least 10 Grands Prix wins.
Now, however, Hamilton will don the Rosso Corsa, the red associated with Ferrari and Italy. He will move closer to 400 starts while continuing a record-breaking racing career.
The veteran racer will not make official Ferrari debut until pre-season testing at Bahrain International Circuit on Feb. 26-28, but he will have an earlier opportunity to get behind the wheel of a Ferrari.
According to Sky Sports, Hamilton will get some testing time in a 2023 Ferrari F1 car this week. He will get some laps at the Fiorano circuit, which sits next to the factory.