Lewis Hamilton has revealed that he shall be sporting a particular helmet in honor of Niki Lauda for his first Italian Grand Prix as a Ferrari driver.
Seven-time world champion Hamilton will put on a yellow and white helmet carrying the identify of Formulation 1 legendary Lauda as he’s on his first aggressive outing as a Ferrari driver on the staff’s residence occasion, Monza.
Following the vastly profitable winter switch from Mercedes, this would be the first particular helmet design Hamilton has worn since becoming a member of Ferrari at first of the season.
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Ferrari pays tribute to Lauda’s first championship victory 50 years in the past in a race at Monza 50 years in the past, and has unveiled a particular colouring that returns to the legendary 312T, which received each world titles in 1975.
As a part of the celebration, drivers Hamilton and Charles Leclair will put on blue and white staff kits and sports activities retro fashion overalls over the weekend.
It will likely be an emotional weekend for Hamilton, who labored intently with Lauda throughout his profitable championship at Mercedes.
Lauda served as Mercedes’ non-executive chairman till his dying in 2019.
The Austrians helped Hamilton transfer from McLaren to Mercedes on the finish of 2012.
What Hamilton mentioned about Lauda
Hamilton helmet design has the identify Lauda
Talking about Lauda in 2020, Hamilton remembers:
“Probably the most favorite reminiscence I had is from my first dialog. We began speaking for some time in 2012. I keep in mind being at residence in the course of the day. I received a name from Niki and he is making an attempt to persuade me to return to the staff.
“He was a really constructive, humorous, humorous man. He all the time had the most important story to inform. He was a naturally born racer. He was all the time interested by how we might enhance. The largest indication of Niki was that when you did the job he would take off his hat.
“We discuss lots after the race and he asks issues like this: He was all the time chasing.
“If I study one thing from him, it is that. It’s important to work collectively naturally as a driver and inside the staff, however you must lead it. It’s important to lead the staff, you must ask questions, you must dig deeper and push everybody.
“I’m grateful for this chance and I really like Niki eternally. I do know he’s spiritually with all races.”
Hamilton and Ferrari had been supported on an important weekend
Ferrari arrived at residence from behind the disastrous Dutch Grand Prix, the place each Hamilton and Leclair crashed.
Hamilton heads for the weekend along with his again foot, realizing he’s answerable for the fifth-place grid penalty after failing to be late below the double yellow flag on his technique to the grid earlier than a race at Zandvort on Sunday.
Meaning the 40-year-old Brit will begin at sixth or beneath in his maiden race at Ferrari Coloration Monza.
Leclerc gave him a memorable victory finally yr’s Italian Grand Prix, however Ferrari nonetheless did not win in 2025.
Leclerc manages 5 podiums with one of the best leads to second place at Monaco, however Hamilton has not received the Grand Prix podium in 15 races since becoming a member of Ferrari.
