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Hamilton battling tough off-track lure at Ferrari… and losing

Lewis Hamilton is no stranger to battling fierce rivals on the track, but as he settles into his new life at Ferrari, the Briton is facing an unexpected adversary: the siren call of Italian pizza!

When residing in Italy, the seven-time world champion is waging a light-hearted war against his love for cheesy, saucy slices, and – spoiler alert –he’s not exactly winning.

After trading Mercedes’ silver for Ferrari’s iconic red over the winter, Hamilton has embraced the Prancing Horse with open arms.

The track results may not yet be championship-worthy, but off the grid, he’s diving headfirst into Italy’s culinary delights.

The problem? His willpower is crumbling faster than a thin-crust Margherita.

“Yeah, I love it,” Hamilton confessed to the media in Miami, his grin betraying his struggle. “Trying to stay off the pizzas and the pasta, which I'm not doing very well with if I'm honest.”

A Cheesy Confession

If anyone was wondering just how “not well” things are going, Hamilton laid it bare.

"I was there last week and had like three pizzas in two days. I have my hookup – he keeps bringing me a pizza. I text him late after the day and I'm like: 'Hey, can I get a pizza?' [and] he keeps bringing me one."

It’s official: Lewis Hamilton has a pizza dealer. And not the shady kind you meet in an alleyway in Milan – this one likely wears an apron and gives change from a Vespa.

With Hamilton’s plant-based diet already famous among fans, it seems even the strongest wills can falter in the land of wood-fired temptation. Perhaps Ferrari’s strategy department should step in—not just on tyte choices, but on takeaway timing.

Living La Dolce Vita (Sort Of)

Hamilton, now 40 and in his debut season with Ferrari, isn’t actually living full-time in Italy yet. But he’s working on it – and soaking up the atmosphere, both automotive and edible.

“Yeah, I really am enjoying it," he continued. "Not living in Italy currently, but spending more time is still something I really want to try and figure out how to do through the year."

©Ferrari

There’s just one minor roadblock: the language barrier. Despite his growing love for the Italian lifestyle (and menu), Hamilton admits that his Italian skills are lagging behind his appetite.

"My Italian is not really progressing, so I've probably got to throw myself more into the thick of it."

That said, it's not all pizza and pasta. Back at the factory, Hamilton is putting in the work with the Scuderia.

"But the team's been well. Lots of changes, a huge amount of work has been going on from my first days there to adjust certain things, for example in the sim, and everyone’s been really responsive and massively supportive. So I’ve really appreciated it."

So while the championship may still be a work in progress, one thing is certain: Hamilton is already a winner in the hearts of Italian chefs.

As for his hookup, somewhere in Maranello, a pizza oven is preheating in hopeful anticipation of another late-night text.

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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.

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