Lewis Hamilton received a huge ovation as he made his first public appearance in Ferrari colours, and if any proof was needed of the anticipation that surrounds the new combination, this was it.
He then took to the Fiorano test track - a rite of passage for any new Ferrari F1 driver - for his first laps in a 2023 model before logging more miles in older cars prior to a first run in the brand-new SF-25.
Vasseur in turn felt that bringing the seven-time world champion on board would be the final step towards making Ferrari the team to beat, even if it meant turfing out the talented Carlos Sainz.
The Monaco native has youth and knowledge of the team on his side, while Hamilton brings his vast experience and the generational talent that has made him the most successful driver in history.
The momentum ran out in 2022 when Mercedes struggled with new aerodynamic rules, and Hamilton endured a couple of tough seasons in which he failed to win a race.
