©Instagram/NicolasHamilton
A quiet stretch of tarmac at Fiorano recently turned into something closer to a family fairytale when Nicolas Hamilton climbed into the passenger seat of Ferrari’s three-seater F1 car – and found himself strapped in next to his seven-time world champion brother.
For Nicolas, who competes in adapted racing machinery due to cerebral palsy and recently celebrated a breakthrough BTCC podium along with a Jack Sears Trophy win, the moment wasn’t just about speed.
It was about distance closed – not measured in lap times, but in years, memories, and shared dreams finally colliding at full throttle.
The invitation itself came out of the blue, the kind of call you don’t forget.
"Lewis called and offered me the opportunity of a lifetime,” Nicolas shared on Instagram. “To be a passenger in a three-seater Ferrari Formula One car, with him driving! I flew out to Fiorano and was the first in the car."
Lowering himself into the custom cockpit of the 2005 V10 machine, the sheer physical reality of the moment hit home.
“I could not believe it! The craziest moment was that I have been standing behind Lewis' F1 car in the garage for years, but this time, I found myself lowering myself into the car, just behind his right shoulder. It was a very surreal moment."
When the V10 screamed to life, the sensory overload was immediate.
"The car was from 2005 with a V10 engine. As the run started, I was just blown away by the sound and the speed, but I quickly found myself going into 'proud brother mode', where I just watched Lewis drive,” he explained.
“After being a part of his career for 34 years, being at every circuit with him as a kid, through karting, all the way to Formula One, I finally got to experience what all the hard work was for and what it felt like to be him. Even though he is my brother, I am also a fan, his No. 1 fan and in awe of his talent."
Licking the apexes of Fiorano at breathtaking speeds, the ride offered the ultimate perspective on a lifetime of shared dedication.
Nicolas summed up the unforgettable afternoon with a mix of sibling pride and genuine fan reverence:
"Even though he is my brother, I got to experience being driven in a Ferrari Formula One car at the Ferrari F1 test track by the best driver of this generation. What an honour and a privilege. A day and a moment that I will never forget."
