Lewis Hamilton’s record-breaking move to Ferrari has already provided us with one of the most iconic images in Formula One history – but things could have been different
Lewis Hamilton’s alleged request to be photographed with a black Ferrari F40 for his inaugural picture with the Formula One titans was reportedly swiftly turned down by his new team. The seven-time world champion caused quite a stir online in January when a photo of him, looking dapper in a sleek black suit outside Enzo Ferrari’s residence in Maranello, was shared on social media.
Racking up over 5.7 million likes, the post quickly went viral as it signified not just a fresh chapter in Hamilton’s illustrious career but another legendary driver joining the ranks of the most successful team in F1 history.
Behind the Brit in the image was the iconic red Ferrari F40 and although the picture made quite an impression, Hamilton had a slightly different artistic concept in mind.
As per Autosprint, the 40-year-old had asked for the Ferrari F40 in the background to be the black version of the sports car, symbolising the fight against discrimination. As the only black driver in F1 history, Hamilton has been candid about his encounters with racism during his early years in racing.
Despite the potent message, Ferrari declined his request, opting to stick with the traditional red colour. Ferrari made the call to pass on Hamilton’s request in line with their long-held belief that “Ferrari remains while drivers come and go”, as was reported by the outlet.
The tale of the F40 – a model created to mark the firm’s 40th anniversary and also the last car greenlit by Enzo Ferrari himself – highlights their commitment to upholding tradition rather than bending for individual stardom, reports the Express.
The Brit appears to be acclimating well to the squad even though the start to the 2025 season has been somewhat patchy. He’s managed just nine points from the season’s opening two Grands Prix, and he, along with team-mate Charles Leclerc, was disqualified in China due to infringements on F1’s technical rules.
Despite the less-than-ideal commencement, Hamilton has praised the team’s approach to the first couple of races. “I didn’t feel like any frustration or anything afterwards. It is what it is,” Hamilton shared with media including RacingNews365.
“Of course, we’ve gone through everything. I was at the factory on Wednesday and [there are] lots of learnings, we take the highs and lows together as a team.
“Obviously, it’s not what everyone’s worked hard to have happen on a race weekend, no team, no engineer, no mechanic puts all the effort in for something like that.
“I’d say the most impressive thing is how the team have taken it, how they’ve worked, how they turned through the data, and how we progress from here is most important.” The next chance to shine on the circuit will be this Sunday at the Japanese Grand Prix.