He said: “I’m really conscious of the fact that there are only a handful of special first times in life — the first kiss, the first date, the first time of school, the first time in the job.
“I remember putting my suit on, getting into the cockpit, and just the excitement I had was very reminiscent of maybe the first time I got to step in a Formula One car when I was 21 years old... 20 years ago.
The seven-time world champion began his love-in with the Italian team when he stepped into the cockpit of their new SF-25 car for the first time in Maranello.
Hamilton, 40, also aimed a dig at his former team Mercedes by saying his new car was nothing like he had ever experienced.
Hamilton added: “I had been waiting such a long time for it, so firing the car up, it’s like such a new, uncharted journey.
