Haas driver Esteban Ocon was “lucky enough” to be in Maranello as Lewis Hamilton made his Ferrari Formula 1 debut.
Hamilton arrived in Maranello for the first time as a Ferrari driver last week, meeting his new colleagues before completing 30 laps of the Fiorano test circuit last Wednesday.
His “dream” realised becoming a Ferrari driver was met with 100s of rampant Tifosi descending on Maranello to catch a glimpse of Hamilton.
Among them was Ocon, who revealed he was in Maranello conducting simulator running with his new team Haas.
“I was lucky enough to be in the same place on the same day because I was also at the Ferrari simulator,” Ocon told Canal+’s ‘La Boîte A Questions’.
“There was a crazy atmosphere, people were going crazy and it’s just wonderful to see that there’s so much passion for Ferrari, for F1 of course, in the world and that it’s growing all the time.
“It’s clear that to have the greatest driver of our generation in the most successful team is just something crazy. So yeah, I can’t wait to be able to fight on track with him, that’s for sure.”
Haas enjoys a close relationship with Ferrari which includes a power unit, gearbox and suspension supply.
The team also employs the use of the Ferrari sim, which limits its simulator running throughout the season per F1’s regulations.
Luckily for Haas, its technical alliance with Toyota will bring the smallest team on the F1 grid its own simulator.
Hamilton reflects on historic moment
Ocon’s remarks upon seeing “the greatest driver of our generation in the most successful team” speak to the magnitude of Hamilton’s move to Ferrari.
That wasn’t lost on the man himself who said after his first laps at Fiorano that “I’ve been lucky enough to have many firsts in my career, from the first test to the first race, podium, win and championship, so I wasn’t sure how many more firsts I had but driving a Scuderia Ferrari HP car for the first time 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 added.
“It reminded me of the very first time I tested a Formula 1 car, it was such an exciting and special moment, and here I am, almost twenty years later, feeling those emotions all over again.
“I already knew from the outside how passionate the Ferrari family is, from everyone in the team to the Tifosi!
“But to now witness it firsthand as a Ferrari driver has been awe-inspiring.
“That passion runs through their veins and you can’t help but be energised by it. I’m so grateful for the love I have felt from everyone in Maranello this week, we have a lot of work to do but I can’t wait to get started.”
Hamilton’s Ferrari preparations continued this week at the Circuit De Barcelona-Catalunya but his running was interrupted by a crash in the final sector of the Spanish Grand Prix circuit.
Hamilton will remain in Spain until next week to participate in a Pirelli 2026 tyre test.
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