LONDON, UK – Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton appeared in Ferrari red for the first time outside of Italy as Formula One put on an unprecedented and spectacular 10-team season launch in front of 15,000 fans on Tuesday, February 18.
The 40-year-old Briton, who has moved from Mercedes, got the loudest cheer of the night when he took the stage for an event that coincided with the birthday of his Italian team’s late founder Enzo.
“I feel so full of life, so much energy, because everything’s new and I’m just focused on what is up ahead,” Hamilton told his home crowd at London’s 02 Arena.
“I’m so proud to be part of the team. Something new and exciting for me.”
The two-hour show, with British comedian and host Jack Whitehall gently ribbing the protagonists, featured lights, lasers and musical acts including former boy band Take That and US country singer Kane Brown.
Liberty Media-owned Formula One said early in the evening that their YouTube channel had smashed through the one-million viewers mark, breaking a previous live-event record of 289,000.
“This event is all about the fans and without the fans there is no sport,” Red Bull team principal Christian Horner told reporters before the show started.
“I’m sure it’s probably the last place that the drivers want to be, paraded out in front of a stadium full of fans, but Formula One is an entertainment, it’s a show, and it’s the 75th anniversary (of the championship).
“So a huge amount of effort has gone into tonight by Formula One and all 10 teams.”
There was a time when the teams struggled to agree even on what day it was, but Formula One’s surging popularity and revenues have concentrated minds.
The success of Netflix docu-series Drive to Survive, and the arrival in cinemas later this year of Brad Pitt’s Hollywood drama F1, led to tickets for the event selling out in a matter of minutes.
The show, featuring all 20 drivers, was broadcast live around the world and streamed on social media.
“It feels like there’s a big rock concert about and ready to happen,” American Zak Brown, chief executive of champions McLaren, told reporters earlier.
“I’ve been a fan for a while of doing more fan events, whether that’s a launch or making the testing that we do a little bit more focused on the fan.”
The teams each had just seven minutes to present their liveries — the cars either old ones re-painted or engineless shells made just for show that will not go anywhere near a circuit.
Red Bull’s at least had an engine in it but Sauber had announced well in advance that theirs would be auctioned off after the event.
Ferrari, last year’s runner-up, will be launching their 2025 car at Maranello on Wednesday while McLaren and Williams ran theirs at Silverstone last week in interim liveries.
Childhood dream
At the live event, Hamilton made his first public comments since signing with Ferrari.
Hamilton, who won six of his seven drivers’ championships during a 12-year run with Mercedes, changed teams in the biggest move of the F1 offseason.
Despite his history with Mercedes, he said joining forces with Ferrari was an honor that fulfilled a childhood dream of his.
“I’ve been lucky enough to have many firsts in my career, from the first test to the first race, podium, win and championship,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton is one of the most iconic F1 drivers ever, having tied Michael Schumacher in 2020 for the most drivers’ championships in the sport’s history.
“I wasn’t sure how many more firsts I had but driving a Scuderia Ferrari HP car for the first time this morning was one of the best feelings of my life. When I started the car up and drove through that garage door, I had the biggest smile on my face,” he said.
Hamilton has a two-year contract with Ferrari. He is preparing for the new season that begins next month in Australia. Hamilton will drive the SF-25 model Ferrari at the manufacturer’s private racetrack in Italy before moving on to preseason testing February 26 in Bahrain. – Rappler.com