McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella has admitted Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari debut even got him “excited” as he branded the partnership a “historic” one for Formula 1.
Hamilton’s long-awaited Ferrari venture began last month with a first week that culminated with the seven-time champion making his maiden on-track outing in red.
Having visited the various departments at Maranello and conducted a seat fitting, the Briton completed 30 laps around Ferrari’s Fiorano test track in the 2023-spec SF-23.
The landmark occasion attracted worldwide attention with over a thousand people reported to have lined the vantage points that surround the circuit to catch a glimpse.
But although Hamilton will be in direct competition with his McLaren team, Stella, who worked at Ferrari from 2000 to 2015, revealed he got swept up in the excitement.
“Observing from a distance I can say that I think the way it is, at least for how this has been reported, it was a great introduction of Lewis to Ferrari,” Stella said at the Autosport Awards.
“To be honest, as a fan of Formula 1, by having been 15 years at Ferrari before, I felt excited myself to see something that is historic for Formula 1, a seven-time World Champion going to Ferrari, one of the most historic teams.”
McLaren aims to make Hamilton’s life ‘difficult’
Stella hasn’t been alone in voicing a positive opinion, as Red Bull boss Christian Horner stated that F1’s most decorated driver and team as a combination will be “box office”.
But while he was impressed with how Ferrari managed Hamilton’s arrival, Stella has warned the enthusiasm will soon subside should the desired results not materialise.
“I think Ferrari and Hamilton handled this very well, but ultimately – I’m sure they know very well – but what counts is what’s happening on track,” he added.
“So, you know, after the initial excitement, I’m sure they will focus very much on making sure that the preparation is good and, on our side, we will try and make their life a little bit difficult.”
Hamilton has also tested in Barcelona – a run which was curtailed when he crashed – as he continued preparations towards his maiden campaign with the Italian marque.
Despite his shunt, Hamilton appears in good spirits heading into his inaugural season with Ferrari as he said on social media that the opening race “can’t come soon enough”.
Hamilton will begin his quest to secure a record eighth Drivers’ title with the team next month at the Australian Grand Prix, the venue where he bagged his first F1 podium.
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