How Lewis Hamilton "betrayed" Toto Wolff on his first day at Ferrari
Today at 05:17 AM
Toto Wolff stated that, despite his friendship with Lewis Hamilton, his goal for the 2025 season is clear: to beat Ferrari. The team principal of Mercedes commented on the seven-time world champion's move to the Scuderia in Maranello, also joking about how Hamilton wore a smart suit for his first appearance at Ferrari after avoiding it for 12 years at Mercedes.
Hamilton's move to Ferrari marked only the second team change in his long Formula 1 career, after his switch from McLaren to Mercedes in 2013. After more than a decade together, Wolff admitted that seeing Hamilton in red was initially strange, but he has now gotten used to the idea.
"At first, it was strange imagining him with a different color after so many years at Mercedes. But then he arrived, so to speak, with his red suit and his red car. In this fast-changing world, you adapt quickly. Now seeing Lewis Hamilton in red is already a normal thing." However, on track, there will be no room for sentimentality: "We are still very good friends. Personally, I wish him the best, but on track, I want to beat him."
Debut in Ferrari and the iconic photo in Maranello
Lewis Hamilton’s first day at Ferrari was a global media event. His visit to the Maranello factory and first contact with the SF-25 led to one of the most viral images in Formula 1 history.
The British driver was photographed in an elegant black suit in front of Enzo Ferrari’s house, with his beloved Ferrari F40 by his side. The photo became the most liked Formula 1 image ever on Instagram, accumulating 5.7 million likes.
Wolff joked that for years he had tried to convince Lewis Hamilton to wear a suit, without success: "For twelve years I tried to get him to wear a suit with a tie, and he did it on his first day at Ferrari." Hamilton, amused, responded: "I'm still not sure I look good in a suit."
Lewis Hamilton's outfit was likely a tribute to Enzo Ferrari, who was often photographed in a dark suit and long coat. The image also sparked several online parodies, with figures like Jeremy Clarkson and IWC founder Kurt Klaus recreating the pose in front of their respective offices, amusing the web.
Hamilton ready for debut in Australia
The 2025 Australian GP will mark Lewis Hamilton's official debut at Ferrari, in a weekend filled with expectations. The seven-time world champion is determined to bring the Scuderia back to the top, while Wolff and Mercedes are ready to challenge him on track.
The season opens with a new rivalry: will the British driver be able to bring the title back to Maranello, or will McLaren confirm its supremacy?
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