Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time World Champion and now Ferrari driver, has recently shared his passion for Italian cuisine, humorously cautioning himself about the potential for weight gain if he indulges too much on pizza. As a Ferrari driver, Hamilton is embracing the Italian lifestyle, including its renowned culinary traditions. However, he jests that a year-long pizza diet might make him unable to fit into his racing car.
Hamilton has been acclimating himself to his new life at Ferrari for the past month, carrying out factory work, testing previous cars, and engaging with the tifosi — the passionate Ferrari fans — at Maranello. This isn’t his first time racing in Italy though; Hamilton has previously competed in the country while climbing the ladder in various karting championships. Now, he returns to Italy as a Ferrari driver under a multi-year contract.
In addition to adopting the Italian way of life, Hamilton is also learning the Italian language. When questioned about his experience with Italian food since joining the Ferrari team, Hamilton reminisced about the past and warned himself about the need to stay in shape.
In a candid confession, he stated, “Okay, the honest truth is I’ve had already quite a few pizzas, but somehow I’ve lost weight. Last week I had three pizzas!” This statement was made with a light-hearted tone in response to a query about his changing diet in Italy, as well as his preference between pizza and pasta.
Hamilton’s admiration for Italian food dates back to his early racing days. He fondly recalled going out for gelato every night with fellow racer Nico Rosberg and indulging in pizza, which is always his first choice when it comes to Italian cuisine.
He also expressed his love for Penne arrabbiata, referring to it as his all-time favourite dish. He mentioned a memorable lasagne prepared by the mother of his first mechanic’s wife, Luca Del Fante, when he was 13 years old. This dish has stuck with him over the years and remains one of his favourite meals, even though he doesn’t eat it now.
However, despite his love for Italian food, Hamilton acknowledges the need to watch his diet, admitting that maintaining his fitness and weight will be a challenge. He humorously warned, “I’ve got to be careful. I can’t eat pizzas all year long, otherwise I won’t fit in the car!” Hamilton’s jesting remark is a testament to his commitment to his profession, underlining the importance of fitness in the high-speed world of car racing, even in the face of irresistible Italian cuisine.
