As one red door closes, so another one opens as current Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz and his 2025 replacement Lewis Hamilton prepare for very different emotions in front of the tifosi at this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix.
Hamilton’s impending move from Mercedes to partner Charles Leclerc was announced in February as Sainz’s long goodbye began even before the 2024 season got under way in Bahrain.
The pair arrived in Monza at different ends of an emotional spectrum, Hamilton being welcomed as the incoming hero and Sainz preparing for a departure to Williams, his own protracted move for next year having only being confirmed earlier this month.
While the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola gave Hamilton a first taste of the adoration coming his way once the switch is complete, heading to Monza presented the seven-time world champion with another chance to experience his new role as the next great hope for the prancing horse.
“I’m not going to lie, it definitely does feel a little bit different,” he said of facing an Italian Grand Prix as a confirmed Ferrari driver.
“It always feels special when you come here. We’re coming here at a decent time in terms of the weather’s incredible today, obviously the huge changes they’ve made to the track.
“There’s always such incredible passion throughout Italy just in the culture in general, but particularly about racing.
“It’s always exciting just to see the fans that we’re going to see throughout the weekend, the passion and excitement that they really bring to this race is really not particularly matched in too many places.”
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG, signs an autograph
Photo by: Steve Etherington / Motorsport Images
Despite previous tussles with the Ferrari favourites in Monza, Hamilton revealed he has always had a special relationship with Italian F1 fans, adding: “I don’t know what to expect. If I’m honest, over the last few years, I’ve had a really warm welcome every time I’ve come.
“There was one time we were really fighting against Ferrari, I can’t remember what year that was, but even then, people were positive, there was never any negativity.
“I think over the past few years, I’ve heard, is it vine Ferrari? How do you say come to Ferrari?” Having been given a swift lesson in Italian by Leclerc, Hamilton continued: “Vieni Ferrari! So I heard that quite a lot.
“It will be interesting to see how that is this year. But…
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