The former Formula 1 star and current Ferrari reserve driver, Antonio Giovinazzi, has disclosed the monumental influence Lewis Hamilton is having on the team as they prepare for the F1 2025 season. His remarks provide an inside look at the team’s opinion of their newly acquired driver.
Hamilton, the British superstar with seven world championships under his belt, is set to make a much-awaited debut at the Australian Grand Prix this coming March. Hosted at the Albert Park Circuit, the event marks the start of Hamilton’s journey with Ferrari. According to Giovinazzi, the champion’s presence is already inspiring the team to elevate their performance.
The 40-year-old Hamilton, who boasts an impressive record of 105 Grand Prix victories, has proven to be a dynamic force for Ferrari. Giovinazzi, a crucial player in Ferrari’s motorsport operations and the winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, acknowledged that the team is feeling the pressure to step up their game in their pursuit of their first F1 world championship since 2008.
Giovinazzi, aged 31, not only competes alongside Alessandro Pier Guidi and James Calado in the World Endurance Championship (WEC), but also serves as Ferrari’s F1 reserve driver. His dual role provides him with a unique vantage point, bridging the gap between Maranello’s premier racing programs.
During the recent introduction of the team’s two-time Le Mans-winning prototype, Giovinazzi shared insights into the value Hamilton brings to Ferrari. “Lewis Hamilton is the best driver in the history of our sport. From any perspective, he can only enrich us. He comes from a different team, so we can gain a lot from his experience,” he said.
Giovinazzi also reflected on the surreal feeling of seeing Hamilton in Ferrari’s signature red. “We met at the Barcelona test. We’re talking about a seven-time world champion, and when someone like that joins the team, there’s so much we can learn from him,” Giovinazzi shared.
Hamilton’s switch to Ferrari has been one of the most ground-breaking driver transfers in recent Formula 1 history. The expectations are sky-high, but the consensus within the Scuderia is that Hamilton’s arrival could be the catalyst that propels the team to championship success.
Giovinazzi, who enjoys a front-row seat to Hamilton’s assimilation into the team, is eager to absorb as much as possible from the sport’s most decorated figure. “As Ferrari’s reserve driver, I’ll have the privilege of sitting in on meetings with him and hearing his perspectives, which will undoubtedly help me grow as a driver and an individual,” Giovinazzi said.
He further highlighted that Hamilton’s addition to the team has sparked renewed energy among the workers at Maranello, further solidifying the positive impact of this monumental transfer. The Hamilton era at Ferrari is being looked upon with great anticipation, and the team is geared up to leverage this opportunity to its fullest potential.
