Lewis Hamilton is about to experience something completely new – the passionate world of Ferrari’s famous Tifosi fans. After joining the legendary Italian team on January 1st, the seven-time world champion is stepping into what might be the most pressure-packed environment in motorsport.
But Ferrari team boss Frederic Vasseur isn’t worried about Hamilton handling the heat.
The Tifosi are dreaming big. They haven’t celebrated a world title since 2008, and they’re hoping Hamilton’s the one to end that drought.
“It’s not really about pressure,” Vasseur told Formula 1’s website. “It’s about the passion of the tifosi, the passion of the press – it’s completely different here.”
The excitement is already building in Italy. Ferrari fans are known for their incredible dedication, often filling race tracks with a sea of red and the team’s prancing horse flags.
Vasseur knows the team can’t get caught up in all the hype. “The target is the same. The approach is the same – to try and do the best with the car and the engineers. We have to keep this focus and not be too focused on the world outside.”
Hamilton won’t have to wait long to get his first taste of Ferrari red. The team plans to get him behind the wheel of a two-year-old Ferrari F1 car later this month for some initial testing.
For Hamilton, who’s spent most of his career dealing with the relatively reserved British racing culture at McLaren and Mercedes, the passionate Italian fan base will be something entirely new.
But if anyone can handle the unique pressures of driving for Ferrari, it’s probably the most successful driver in F1 history.
