Formula 1 created a special ten-team season launch spectacle in front of 15,000 fans which marked Lewis Hamilton’s debut in Ferrari red clothing outside of Italy.
The seven-times world champion gained the loudest applause of the night because he joined Mercedes before stepping onstage at an event which coincided with Enzo’s birthday as the late founder of his Italian team.
“I feel so full of life, so much energy, because everything’s new and I’m just focused on what is up ahead. I’m so proud to be part of the team. Something new and exciting for me.” Hamilton said.
The YouTube channel managed by Liberty Media-owned F1 exceeded one million viewers during early evening hours breaking their existing live-event record of 289,000.
“This event is all about the fans and without the fans there is no sport,” Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said.
“I’m sure it’s probably the last place that the drivers want to be, paraded out in front of a stadium full of fans, but Formula 1 is an entertainment, it’s a show, and it’s the 75th anniversary (of the championship).” he added.
Hamilton joins Charles Leclerc in the F1 race as Ferrari attempts to win its first driver championship since 2007.
“There are some days that you know you’ll remember forever and today, my first as a Ferrari driver, is one of those days,” Hamilton wrote on Instagram.
“I’ve been lucky enough to have achieved things in my career I never thought possible, but part of me has always held on to that dream of racing in red. I couldn’t be happier to realise that dream today.” he added.
The Bahrain tests start on February 26 to kick off the new season which begins with the Australian Grand Prix on March 16.
