Thousands of Ferrari fans gathered in the streets of Imola, wearing red and showing strong support for Lewis Hamilton. This marks Hamilton’s first home race with Ferrari since his switch from Mercedes last year. Fans have been eager to see the seven-time world champion race for the Scuderia as the team aims to win its first drivers’ championship since 2007. The excitement has been building not only in Imola but also near Maranello, where fans hope to catch a glimpse of Hamilton and his efforts to bring Ferrari back to the top.
Despite the high hopes, Ferrari’s new SF-25 car has struggled this season. The team currently ranks fourth in the constructors’ standings, and Hamilton is seventh in the drivers’ championship, trailing McLaren’s Oscar Piastri by 90 points. Hamilton’s only recent victory came in a sprint race in China, but the car has not shown consistent speed throughout the season. The Miami Grand Prix was particularly disappointing for Ferrari, with both drivers finishing behind Williams in seventh and eighth place.
Hamilton is facing the challenge of adapting to a new team after 12 years at Mercedes. Learning Ferrari’s team structure and working with new personnel has been difficult. Although he has experienced frustrations, Hamilton remains focused on improving the team’s performance and moving forward. The pressure of racing in front of Ferrari’s passionate home fans adds motivation for the driver and the team to perform better.
In Imola, fans have warmly welcomed Hamilton. Many supporters proudly wear his #44 Ferrari gear, showing confidence that he will win races for Ferrari in the future. Hamilton has expressed appreciation for the strong passion of Ferrari’s tifosi, noting that it exceeds expectations and creates a special atmosphere around the team.
On track, Hamilton showed competitive pace during practice sessions. He recorded the fifth-fastest time in the first practice, just behind McLaren drivers Piastri and Lando Norris. The top five drivers were separated by less than a tenth of a second, highlighting the close competition in Formula 1. The second practice session saw Piastri leading again, followed closely by Norris, Gasly, Russell, and Verstappen.
Lewis Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari has renewed hope among fans, even though the team’s results remain modest. The connection between driver and supporters is growing stronger as they look forward to better performances in the races ahead. Ferrari continues its pursuit of a drivers’ championship with Hamilton playing a key role.
