Hamilton and Leclerc unleash Ferrari fever in Milan

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©Ferrari

On Thursday, Milan’s Piazza Castello erupted as over 20,000 fans swarmed the streets for a Ferrari show-run, witnessing Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc’s first joint spectacle ahead of the 2025 F1 season.

Partnered with UniCredit, Ferrari’s return to the city after six years delivered tyre smoke, sideways thrills, and raw passion.

Leclerc ripped through the tarmac in the SR90, while Hamilton, in the 2021-spec SF-21, indulged in a masterful display of his own that enthralled fans.

“I've seen the Tifosi over the years for Sebastian [Vettel], I've seen them for Fernando [Alonso], I've seen them for Charles and Carlos [Sainz], so I wasn't surprised,” Hamilton told Reuters, soaking in the electric atmosphere.

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Yet, the seven-time champ’s hunger to connect runs deeper.

“Bit by bit I'm getting to see more and more of the Tifosi and getting to know them a little bit more. I really really want to be able to communicate with them in Italian, so I've got to work on it.”

Hamilton’s resolve to end Ferrari’s title drought since 2008 burns bright.

“Just driving for Ferrari is a huge honour but they already have an incredible legacy so it's not that they need necessarily another championship, because they have so many already,” he said.

“But I know that's what they exist to do, to work towards, and I know that the Tifosi are dying for that...I wouldn't be able to find the words to be able to express just how special that would be.

“But that's what we work towards.”

With the Milan spectacle behind them, Ferrari's gaze is now fixed on next week's Australian Grand Prix, where Leclerc and Hamilton will unleash their 2025 F1 campaign at Albert Park.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.