Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari gifts go under the radar after “life-changing” first year
Lewis Hamilton thanked Ferrari staff with Fortnum & Mason hampers and signed cards after his debut season with the team
Lewis Hamilton is turning his back on a difficult first season with the Ferrari Formula 1 team, but not without thanking his colleagues for the support they've given him through 2025.
A number of photos and reports from Italy have shown that the seven-time champion had sent gifts and a card to his colleagues at Ferrari. Hampers full of Fortnum & Mason tea, biscuits and chocolate were sent to the racing team's employees, accompanied by a signed photo and a card that read: "Happy Holidays, From Lewis".
Little noise has been made about this gesture, but several Ferrari employees have taken to social media to thank the driver.
Following his exit from the Mercedes F1 team at the end of the 2024 season, the Briton's time at the Scuderia has been turbulent. Despite a sprint win in China, he failed to finish on a grand prix podium throughout his campaign. In fact, this was the first year of his career in F1 where he hadn't finished a grand prix in the top three - a disappointing result for a driver who was hoping to improve on his recent performance at Mercedes.
Despite the aching lack of success with the Italian team, he's confident he's in the right place.
"It’s surreal to be a part of this team, and through the ups and downs this year has been life-changing," he said.
"I don't regret the decision I've made joining the team," he said in a separate interview at the end of November. "I know it takes time to build and grow within an organisation and [I] expected that."
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photo by: Bob Kupbens / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photo by: Bob Kupbens / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Hamilton has been open about the adaptation he's been confronted with since joining the squad.
"I think it was difficult for Lewis," Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur said. "And it's a small world, probably. It was difficult because after 20 years, I say 20 years because for me McLaren was McLaren, Mercedes and then Mercedes.
"He spent 20 years with Mercedes. It was a huge change. I personally underestimate the step. It's not that we are doing worse or better. It's that we are just doing differently. It's not just about the food or the weather. It's that every single software is different. Every single component is different. The people around him, they were different.
"And if you are not on the top of everything, you're late on the table a couple of hundredths of seconds."
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