Lewis Hamilton’s seventh-placed finish in 2024 was the lowest of his F1 career (Image: PA)
Ex-Ferrari chief and F1 supremo Stefano Domenicali has laid out a key piece of advice to : if he wants to gel with the Italian stalwarts at Maranello, he’ll need to master their mother tongue. In preparation for his much-anticipated two-year stint with , the British racing icon, who penned a deal almost a year ago, is embracing the challenge by taking Italian lessons.
As Hamilton gets set to leave behind his legacy at for the scarlet allure of , it’s crystal clear that the team’s fierce national pride remains undiminished.
Unlike their rivals who’ve set up shop in England—including powerhouses like and —’s heart beats firmly in Italy, a fact that Hamilton must respect as many of ‘s best minds and engineers are Italian through and through. Communication is key and Domenicali doesn’t mince words about the necessity of Hamilton picking up Italian pronto.
Speaking to Autoracer, Domenicali highlighted the importance of integrating into ‘s distinctive culture: “He will bring a lot of interest. He is learning to speak Italian and to understand how to integrate into our culture. I told him, it is fundamental for him to be able to do this as well. In he will find a different environment than before.”
The connection between drivers is vital for any team’s success, and Hamilton will have to form a quick bond with teammate Charles Leclerc, who joined the squad back in 2019 and is already fluent in Italian, even using it over the radio. Other former legends, like Sebastian Vettel, could converse fluently in Italian, setting a high bar for Hamilton as he looks to forge unity with Leclerc and the rest of the Prancing Horse family.
Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes waves to the crowd on the drivers parade prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Qatar at Lusail International Circuit (Image: Getty Images)
Domenicali has weighed in on the dynamic between Leclerc and Hamilton, saying: “Charles will obviously have to accept that having someone like Lewis in the house will not be an easy partner. At the same time Lewis will definitely have the ability to transmit this positivity of his in trying to achieve his record.
“He has it as clear as if it were on the centre bar of the Halo. They love each other very much and I hope they will love each other again at the end of the year.”
CEO of Formula One Group Stefano Domenicali, wearing a black armband following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday, as he arrives for practice at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza ahead of the Italian Grand Prix. Picture date: Friday September 9, 2022. PA Photo. See PA story AUTO Italian. Photo credit should read: David Davies/PA Wire.RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only, no commercial use without prior consent from rights holder. (Image: PA)
Leclerc, who has yet to launch a serious bid for the title despite frequently leading the pack, has won eight races with the Italian squad but is now facing a world champion teammate for the second time. He commented on the situation: “I will be super curious to see what he has done right for all his career to have had all the success that he’s had. He has very little weaknesses – well actually, I don’t know any weaknesses of Lewis. He’s a super strong driver, always there, super fast, super consistent. It will be super interesting for me to learn from Lewis, as much as showing what I am capable of in the same car as Lewis. These two things motivate me a lot.”
Hamilton, on the other hand, is still chasing his eighth world championship, which would make him the most successful driver in the sport’s history, surpassing Michael Schumacher’s seven titles. Since 2020, he has not claimed the championship.