Lewis Hamilton has expressed his desire to deliver for the Tifosi fans as he chases an eighth Formula 1 World Championship with Ferrari in 2025.
The British driver, alongside his team-mate Charles Leclerc, were serenaded by the Italian fans at Milan’s Piazza Castello on Thursday.
Around 35,000 fans attended the event, presented by Ferrari sponsor Unicredit, as Hamilton and Leclerc drove old-spec Ferrari cars.
The Tifosi cheered on the team before it heads to Australia next week for the first round of the upcoming 2025 season.
Showcasing his appreciation for the crowd’s enthusiasm, Hamilton revealed how he wants to become more acquainted with the Tifosi.
“I’ve seen the Tifosi over the years for Sebastian [Vettel], I’ve seen them for Fernando [Alonso], I’ve seen them for Charles and Carlos [Sainz], so I wasn’t surprised,” Hamilton said (via Reuters).
“Bit by bit, I’m getting to see more and more of the Tifosi and getting to know them a little bit more.
“I really, really want to be able to communicate with them in Italian, so I’ve got to work on it.”
The last driver to win a title for Ferrari was Kimi Raikkonen in 2007, beating Hamilton by a single point in his rookie season.
The former Mercedes driver added that he understands just how much the Ferrari fans crave success.
“Just driving for Ferrari is a huge honour, but they already have an incredible legacy, so it’s not that they need necessarily another championship because they have so many already,” he said.
“But I know that’s what they exist to do, to work towards, and I know that the Tifosi are dying for that…I wouldn’t be able to find the words to be able to express just how special that would be.
“But that’s what we work towards.”
Hamilton: ‘I’m still pinching myself’
The last Constructors’ Championship victory for Ferrari was back in 2008, the year Hamilton claimed the first of his seven Drivers’ titles.
Since then, the 40-year-old left McLaren for Mercedes, as he went on to create one of the most successful partnerships in F1.
With the Silver Arrows, he won another six World Championships and helped the German squad to pick up eight constructors’ titles.
Yet, after 12 seasons together, Hamilton jumped at the opportunity to race in red for the 2025 season.
It is a reality he still can’t quite fathom as his debut for the team fast approaches.
“I’m still pinching myself,” he told the BBC.
“Next week, when I get to the race, I’m going to be starting a grand prix in red.
“Wow, I don’t have the words to really explain just how excited I am.”
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