Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari in Maranello: this was John Elkann’s dream. As extensively anticipated, final Monday, the headquarters at Through Abetone Inferiore 4 grew to become the middle of the world, a minimum of so far as motorsport is worried. The British driver’s first “operational” day was a chance to satisfy the workforce of the Prancing Horse, underneath the watchful eyes of the whole prime administration of the purple group. Current in full ceremonial vogue have been the main figures of the historic Maranello firm: President John Elkann, chief govt officer Benedetto Vigna, and Workforce Principal Frederic Vasseur.
The seven-time Components 1 world champion appeared visibly moved by the welcome and by discovering the internal workings of the corporate that not solely produces essentially the most well-known automobiles on the earth however is, within the sporting realm, the last word manufacturing unit of desires, no matter success on the observe. That success within the prime class has been absent because the time when Lewis Hamilton was taking his first steps in Components 1, astonishing the world together with his rapid capacity to struggle for the title as a rookie, competing in opposition to Fernando Alonso.
What is definite is that every one the members of the Italian group have been swept up by immense enthusiasm, which Ferrari will do all the things to channel as a catalyst for the championship hopes of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, who was additionally discreetly current. Furthermore, Ferrari’s meticulous consideration to each single element in communication and picture highlights the size of the occasion, in addition to the large expectations this partnership will inevitably be required to satisfy. Nothing much less was anticipated from this preliminary level of contact.
Instances change, as does the way in which of speaking with the skin world. We all know this effectively. However, no Ferrari driver has ever been given such a welcome as a brand new arrival. In spite of everything, the Italian F1 group had by no means signed a driver with so many accolades. Not even Michael Schumacher, when he arrived in 1996, had achieved Lewis Hamilton’s milestones. Probably the most highly effective message of the day is subliminal but very clear to these acquainted with the historical past of essentially the most adorned group on the earth.
John Elkann’s presence, appearing virtually as a shadow for Lewis Hamilton at each step, at the same time as he greeted followers exterior the Prancing Horse’s headquarters, “betrays” the inheritor of the Agnelli household’s need to assert (and remind everybody of) the parenthood of the signing of the British champion. Past the assured return on funding from the colossal advertising and marketing and merchandising equipment, with the “Lewis Hamilton deal” the grandson of lawyer Gianni Agnelli seeks to etch his title into the legendary historical past of Ferrari.
For these with just a few grey hairs, it’s effectively remembered that the lawyer, a staunch Juventus supporter, was not accustomed to attending the main occasions of the purple group. Nonetheless, he made an exception in the course of the 1996 Components 1 racing marketing campaign when the primary Ferrari of Michael Schumacher, the not-so-competitive F310, was unveiled. On February 15, 1996, Gianni Agnelli hosted the occasion underneath a marquee arrange in Fiorano. He took the stage throughout Michael Schumacher’s first official look and, in his distinctive fashion, conveyed the magnitude of the funding and the excessive expectations.
“Definitely, Michael didn’t come to us for a crust of bread.” These have been the phrases of John’s grandfather. The present Ferrari president has little in widespread together with his illustrious ancestor. Nonetheless, the arrival of Lewis Hamilton looks as if a nostalgic try and retrace his grandfather’s footsteps. It undoubtedly sends a subliminal message to all managerial ranges of the Ferrari Racing Division: now that the Prancing Horse has a driver who has gained all over the place, greater than anybody else, there can now not be excuses for not seizing the Components 1 world championship.
The automobile should stay as much as the seven-time world champion and Charles Leclerc, who, in his seventh season with the Italian group, has a singular alternative: to win his first world title by defeating the motive force who rewrote Components 1’s information. Final Monday is likely to be remembered because the day marking the daybreak of a brand new golden age for Ferrari or, at worst, one other grand imaginative and prescient and not using a completely satisfied ending. Those that care concerning the destiny of the purple group hope to be on the daybreak of a brand new period of victories, no matter who will lead the historic Italian group to success as envisioned by president John Elkann.
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