On the short walk from the railway station in Imola to the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, the tree-lined streets bask in dappled spring sunshine, alive with fervor. The faithful clad in Ferrari’s iconic rosso corsa flood toward the circuit for the eagerly anticipated home race. More than a year after Lewis Hamilton’s announcement to join Ferrari, the tifosi’s excitement is palpable. After all, this is not just any race weekend — it is the long-awaited chance to see the seven-time world champion take the wheel for the Scuderia, the team that holds a unique place in the hearts of Italian fans. Hamilton himself is keenly aware of this passion and the expectations that come with it.
The Tifosi’s Long-Awaited Homecoming for Lewis Hamilton
Since Monday, devoted tifosi have gathered outside Ferrari’s Maranello factory, less than 50 miles from Imola, in hopes of catching a glimpse of their heroes. From dawn until dusk, they patiently wait as the drivers arrive and depart, a ritual of reverence and hope. Even last year, before Hamilton officially donned the scarlet race suit, his impending arrival was a source of celebration and excitement among the Ferrari faithful.
Hamilton’s move from Mercedes to Ferrari was one of the most talked-about shifts in recent Formula 1 history. The sport’s winningest driver, finally uniting with the oldest and arguably most iconic marque, rekindled dreams of ending Ferrari’s drivers’ championship drought, which has stretched back to 2007. For many tifosi, this partnership represents a revival of the Scuderia’s glory days and a promise that Ferrari will return to the top of the sport.
Despite the enthusiasm, Hamilton’s arrival in Italy this year was tinged with mixed emotions. The Scuderia’s SF-25 has struggled to live up to expectations, leaving many fans and pundits questioning if the long wait for renewed Ferrari dominance will continue. Yet the tifosi remain fiercely loyal, embodying a passion that is as much cultural as it is sporting.
Ferrari’s Struggles Amid High Expectations
The reality on the track has been sobering for both Hamilton and Ferrari. Last season ended on a positive note with Ferrari finishing runners-up in the constructors’ championship and showing promising pace. But the start of the 2025 campaign has brought frustration. The SF-25, while visually stunning and technologically advanced, has been hampered by inconsistent pace and lack of performance in crucial corners.
Hamilton’s win in the sprint race in China offered a brief glimmer of hope but failed to signal a turning point for the team. At Imola, the weight of history and expectation was heavier than ever. The seven-time world champion spoke candidly about the challenge, saying, “It is pretty incredible the support this team has. There is a lot of high hope and expectation of course, but that comes with greatness. When you are a great team, that is what people expect.”
However, the results tell a story of struggle. Hamilton is currently seventh in the drivers’ championship, a significant 90 points behind McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who leads the standings. Ferrari sits fourth in the constructors’, a position far below where the team and fans had hoped to be at this stage.
At the recent Miami Grand Prix, Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc found themselves embroiled in a battle with Williams cars — a contest that underscored the Ferrari’s difficulties. Finishing seventh and eighth respectively, they showed they were competing not for wins but for midfield points, a situation that would be unthinkable for the storied team just a few years ago.
Lewis Hamilton’s Adaptation and Challenges at Ferrari
For Hamilton, the challenge extends beyond the car. After 12 years at Mercedes, where he built his legacy and won six of his seven world titles, adapting to Ferrari’s team structure, culture, and personnel has been a formidable task. Even if the SF-25 had been quick and reliable, the transition itself demands immense mental and physical adjustment.
His frustration with the car’s performance is clear but measured. Rather than public outbursts, Hamilton channels his competitiveness into pushing the team forward. Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has acknowledged the added pressure of racing on home soil in front of the tifosi but views it as a motivating force rather than a burden.
“There is extra pressure but we have to take this as a positive, as a push and to see all the tifosi in the grandstands it’s an extra motivation,” Vasseur said. “Lewis’s position is that he is taking it as a huge opportunity, this home race in front of the tifosi, with all this enthusiasm.”
Indeed, the tifosi’s reception has been warm and enthusiastic. Among the crowd, young fans like Kiarah and her friend Selena from Ravenna express their admiration for Hamilton’s mindset and winning mentality. “We like his mentality, he is a winner,” Kiarah said, sporting homemade “44” deeley boppers to celebrate Hamilton’s number. “To have him at Ferrari, we are so happy. He will win for Ferrari, maybe not now but later, he will.”
Hamilton himself has reflected on the intensity of passion around Ferrari and how different it is to be immersed in it firsthand. “You know that Italians are passionate and that there is passion around Ferrari,” he said. “But it’s a lot more than you expect when you are actually in it and it is beautiful.”
In Friday’s practice sessions at Imola, Hamilton showed signs of promise despite Ferrari’s challenges. He managed fifth-fastest in the first session, narrowly behind the McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, with less than a tenth of a second separating the top five. However, in the afternoon, McLaren again led the way, with Piastri and Norris topping the timesheets and Hamilton falling back amidst fierce competition.
