Ferrari’s livery isn’t red enough for Hamilton – RaceFans - Canada News Beep

Lewis Hamilton’s first victory for Ferrari did not entirely live up to his childhood dreams, the driver admitted.

He scored his breakthrough win at the Circuit de Catalunya, 30 years since Michael Schumacher also claimed his first victory for Ferrari at the same track. But as Hamilton pointed out, Schumacher’s Ferrari carried more of the traditional Ferrari red than his does.

“It was 30 years ago that Michael won,” said Hamilton after his victory on Sunday. “I would have been at home on my couch watching that race. Probably like many of you, with a plate on my lap, eating a sandwich or maybe chicken noodle soup or something like that on a Sunday – I was 12 – if I wasn’t racing.

“I was just looking at that red car and thinking, ‘I wonder what it’s like sitting in that red cockpit?’ My cockpit happens to be white, which I’ve not been too happy about. I wanted to be red like Michael’s. I’ll get it back to red at some stage.

“But what it would be like to sit in that red car, which I got to experience last year, but then be in that red suit, standing in first place in front of that amazing crew who was singing the national anthem.”

Ferrari’s livery, particularly the clash between its traditional red colour and the blue of its title sponsor, has previously attracted criticism this year.

Nonetheless Hamilton said celebrating his first win with Ferrari’s mechanics was a joyful moment. “It was really amazing to witness and to see the joy in their eyes and to feel it with them,” he said. “I nearly passed out after I hugged them. My heart was exploding with joy.”

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Pictures: Various red and red-and-white Ferrari liveries