Lewis Hamilton gets special 'Schumacher privilege' upon his arrival to Ferrari

Ferrari has made a powerful gesture by granting Lewis Hamilton special privileges within the team, drawing comparisons to the treatment that racing legend Michael Schumacher once received.

As part of his transition from Mercedes to Ferrari, Hamilton has been given access to Enzo Ferrari’s personal villa in Italy, a deeply symbolic privilege that Ferrari has rarely extended, as F1 news site The Judge reported. 

This exclusive honor emphasizes Ferrari’s commitment to Hamilton as they aim to reshape the team’s competitive trajectory, much like they did with Schumacher in the early 2000s.

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Hamilton's arrival marks Ferrari’s ambitious bid to re-establish itself at the forefront of Formula 1. With a record seven World Championships and a career defined by his rivalry with Schumacher’s achievements, who also holds seven titles, Hamilton’s move has sparked excitement among Ferrari fans.

The trust Ferrari has placed in Hamilton mirrors the philosophy that enabled Schumacher’s success – creating a culture where the driver’s influence transcends the car and the track.

Not only are Ferrari banking on Hamilton to secure his so-far elusive eighth title to well and truly place him – and Ferrari – at the front of the F1 history books, Hamilton is also expected to have a huge role in identifying areas of improvement and strategies to contribute to the team's wider success.

It has to be said, Merecedes haven't seen the best of Hamilton for the last couple of seasons, with his boss Toto Wolff even hinting that Hamilton may be fast approaching his "shelf life" in the sport in his new book 'Inside Mercedes F1: Life in the Fast Lane,' as Sky Sports reported.

"[But] I like the situation," Wolf said of Hamilton's decision to move. "It helps us because it avoids the moment where we need to tell the sport's most iconic driver that we want to stop."

2024 has been an off year for Hamilton. Not only did the Brit declare the Australian GP the worst start to a season he’s ever experienced, as Formula 1’s official site reported. The season has seen him play second fiddle to team-mate George Russell, suggesting that the F1 legend may just be phoning it in.

Ferrari will be hoping the Hamilton that arrives in Maranello will be feeling a stronger sense of purpose and responsibility to the team, which is perhaps what the gesture of letting him use Enzo Ferrari’s residence is really all about.

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