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MONZA, Italy — As a five-time winner of the Italian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton is aware of what it’s like to face atop the enduring Monza podium after the checkered flag.
Suspended above the pit wall, the rostrum at Monza provides the highest three an opportunity to gaze out on the hundreds of followers who flood the primary straight after the grand prix, waving flags and chanting to have fun their success.
It’s an emotional, evocative second, regardless of which crew you race for. However doing in order a Ferrari driver on the residence of its loyal tifosi fanbase, with an environment like nowhere else on the F1 calendar, is further particular.
The Italian nationwide anthem rouses the Monza crowd to its fullest voice when it performs in honor of a Ferrari residence win. The crew has gained 20 instances on the observe however simply as soon as up to now decade.
Even when racing for rival groups, McLaren and Mercedes, Hamilton all the time felt welcomed at Monza. “There was one time we have been actually preventing in opposition to Ferrari,” he mentioned on Thursday. “Even then, folks have been optimistic. There was by no means any negativity.”
This 12 months’s Italian Grand Prix is completely different for Hamilton. In his first go to to Monza since saying his shock transfer to Ferrari for 2025 at the beginning of February, it’ll be an opportunity for him to essentially join with a tifosi that’s already buzzing with pleasure for the arrival of considered one of F1’s all-time greats in just a few months.
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“I’m not going to lie, it undoubtedly does really feel just a little bit completely different (this 12 months),” Hamilton admitted. “It all the time feels particular whenever you come right here. There’s all the time such unimaginable ardour all through Italy simply within the tradition normally however significantly about racing.
“It’s all the time thrilling simply to see the followers that we’re going to see all through the weekend. The eagerness and pleasure that they actually carry to this race is actually not significantly matched in too many locations.”
The tifosi – its title originating from the Historic Greek ‘typhos,’ for the bonfire smoke historic Olympian followers would expertise after a win – has established itself as F1’s most vibrant, passionate fan base, changing into a core a part of Ferrari’s wealthy historical past. Whereas the enduring Ferrari crimson graces grandstands the world over, there’s a distinctive, stirring influence when it adorns the Monza grandstands. Italy and F1 will all the time be deeply linked. However right here, just one crew really issues.
Hamilton has skilled the Monza podium earlier than, however by no means sporting the Ferrari crimson. (Mark Thompson/Getty Photos)
“It’s such a particular feeling as a result of you may actually see and really feel the fervour of the tifosi and all of the people who find themselves touring to Monza for Ferrari, how a lot it means for them to really be right here,” mentioned Charles Leclerc, who scored Ferrari’s most up-to-date Monza win in 2019.
“Even to see the mechanics or the engineers, the tifosi are so comfortable. They aren’t solely supporting the drivers, however they’re supporting Ferrari as an entire, and each crew member. It’s a particular expertise for everyone throughout the crew.”
After saying his resolution to go away Mercedes, Hamilton mentioned he’d all the time dreamed of someday placing on the crimson Ferrari race swimsuit, to really feel the frenzy of racing within the crimson vehicles. It was a transfer many Ferrari followers additionally dreamed about.
“Over the previous few years, I’ve heard… is it ‘vin-ay Ferrari’? How do you say ‘come to Ferrari’?” Hamilton requested, turning to Leclerc, his teammate for 2025. Leclerc corrected him to ‘vieni Ferrari’.
“I heard that rather a lot,” Hamilton added. “So it is going to be attention-grabbing to see how that’s this 12 months.” Hamilton conceded his Italian stays as rusty as when he raced go-karts in Italy as an adolescent.
Hamilton has already began to get a style of what to anticipate from Ferrari followers at races this season. “I’ve had some folks there who’ve requested me to signal Ferrari caps, and I’ve been like, ‘no no, it’s too early, it’s too quickly!’” he mentioned. “They’re attempting to get forward of the curve! However I’ve signed some caps, clearly.”
His first correct encounter with the tifosi because the Ferrari transfer was introduced got here at Imola, the opening Italian race of the 12 months again in Could. Whereas it doesn’t maintain the identical significance as Monza, the nation’s yearly F1 pilgrimage web site, it was nonetheless an opportunity for Hamilton to grasp how the Ferrari followers would embrace him.
“I bought a very heat reception,” Hamilton mentioned, earlier than once more turning to Leclerc: “There was this wonderful image of me, you and Fred (Vasseur) – did you see it?”
“As saints?” Leclerc replied, laughing with Hamilton as he recalled seeing the identical poster.
Sir Lewis : “that is so good…I NEED TO GET MY HAIR OUT LIKE THAT” 😭😭😭😭
he noticed it guys 😭😭😭❤️❤️❤️#F1 #ImolaGP pic.twitter.com/CcRBloVJXE
— sim (@sim3744) Could 18, 2024
The highlight at Monza comes with drawbacks. From the second the Ferrari drivers step exterior of the paddock, they draw followers towards them like magnets. Whilst Leclerc rode out of Ferrari’s storage to go across the observe on Thursday night, he needed to rigorously weave across the followers who have been following him via the pit lane, taking photos and attempting to pose for selfies.
“It’s troublesome to get out and in of the resort each morning and each night, but it surely’s a really particular feeling,” Leclerc mentioned, admitting the additional commitments might make for a “tiring week” at Monza however the assist made all of it worthwhile. “It’s motivating us on the most,” Leclerc mentioned. “However Lewis shall be experiencing that subsequent 12 months and we’ll expertise that collectively. I’m certain it is going to be a particular 12 months.”
It’s an expertise that Carlos Sainz will undergo for the ultimate time this weekend. When he returns to Monza subsequent 12 months, he’ll be racing for Williams after being the collateral injury in Hamilton’s transfer. Whereas the tifosi will nonetheless cheer for a driver who has been a necessary a part of Ferrari’s latest historical past, the sensation and focus will undoubtedly be completely different for Sainz. Understanding that has prompted him to make sure he took the time to understand this weekend totally.
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“I’m actually attempting to take pleasure in it as a lot as attainable, to embrace the emotions and attempt to be current,” mentioned Sainz. “Earlier than coming right here this weekend, I attempted to cease a bit, go searching and say, ‘OK, I’m a Ferrari driver with choices of a podium or a win this weekend if every part goes properly,’ and attempt to take pleasure in that second, benefit from the second with the tifosi.”
That connection to the followers is one thing Hamilton has all the time used as a supply of power all through his F1 profession. From subsequent season, ’Crew LH’ and the tifosi shall be united.
“I’m tremendous excited,” Hamilton mentioned. “Yearly, having come right here and seen (it), you’re on the rostrum, and also you see the tifosi all the best way right down to Flip 1.
“I don’t actually know what to anticipate. However I’m actually trying ahead to connecting with that neighborhood and being on the journey with them as we work in direction of taking the crew forwards.”
Prime photograph: Clive Rose/Getty Photos
