By James Broughton, January 21, 2025
The deed is done, the deal is complete, and it’s now official: Sir Lewis Hamilton is a bona fide Scuderia Ferrari driver. In all my years of watching Formula One, which began in 1988, I never imagined seeing a Black man—a man of mixed heritage—driving for Scuderia Ferrari. This is truly a historic moment in motorsport, if not a significant cultural milestone for the world of sports and Italy itself.
In the context of European history, particularly in countries like Italy, darker-skinned individuals have often been subject to stereotypes, rooted in perceptions of savagery forged during the brutal colonial conquest of Africa by European settlers.
Much of Africa’s wealth—its abundant natural resources—remains under the control of entities linked to those colonial powers, effectively perpetuating the exploitation of the continent to this day. It raises a provocative question: who are the real savages in this narrative?
Sartorial Style
But I’m getting sidetracked here—I should be celebrating this moment, indeed I truly am. Hamilton began his Ferrari tenure on Monday, January 20, 2025, sartorially dressed in an Italian-tailored suit and tie, paired with a matching overcoat. His dreadlocked hair was tied back in a ponytail, perhaps the only subtle nod to his heritage.
This is a moment of heritage—two icons merging as one, uniting to form a superteam: a dream realized for one and a hope for conquest for the other. Hamilton’s first day on the job included a meet-and-greet at Ferrari’s legendary Maranello headquarters and a tour of Enzo Ferrari’s historic Fiorano house.
Hamilton will spend Tuesday immersed in a flurry of technical briefings. It’s official, the celebrations are over; the work begins now. After all, this is a business, and while winning is fleetingly memorable, it also must be purposeful and profitable.
Yet, I can’t help but wonder if this dream come true might eventually turn sour. So often, it does when two icons come together. It’s hard to predict, but we’ll get our first hints when F1 pre-season testing kicks off in Bahrain from February 26 to 28.
Before the pre-season tests, however, there’s the small matter of unveiling the 2025-spec car, which is scheduled for February 19.
