Ferrari's Hamilton and Leclerc embrace Milan's passionate tifosi

Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc experienced the fervent support of Ferrari fans as they sped around Piazza Castello in Milan on Thursday. The duo performed thrilling driving feats before heading to Australia for the commencement of the Formula 1 season.

Presented by Ferrari sponsor Unicredit, the event drew a massive crowd of approximately 35,000 "tifosi." The seven-time world champion Hamilton dazzled fans with smoking tyre burnouts that resonated through the city's streets.

Hamilton was behind the wheel of a 2021 SF-21 car, while Leclerc drove an SF-90, the same model he used to secure his first victory for Ferrari in 2019. The two Ferrari drivers ran concurrently, providing an exhilarating display as they passed each other in their respective vehicles.

"I've seen the tifosi over the years for Sebastian [Vettel], I've seen them for Fernando [Alonso], I've seen them for Charles and Carlos [Sainz], so I wasn't surprised," Hamilton said about the excited crowd. He added, "Bit by bit I'm getting to see more and more of the tifosi and getting to know them a little bit more. I really, really want to be able to communicate with them in Italian, so I've got to work on it."

Leclerc: Ferrari the ‘coolest team' on the grid

Charles Leclerc praised Ferrari, calling it the "most iconic" and "now coolest" F1 team, particularly highlighting their latest kit. Although Ferrari has not clinched a championship title since the 2008 constructors' victory, Hamilton, who recently transferred from Mercedes to Ferrari, is determined to secure a record eighth championship.

The gravity of this potential achievement is not lost on Hamilton, who said, "Just driving for Ferrari is a huge honor, but they already have an incredible legacy so it's not that they need necessarily another championship, because they have so many already. But I know that's what they exist to do, to work towards, and I know that the tifosi are dying for that... I wouldn't be able to find the words to be able to express just how special that would be. But that's what we work towards."

Hamilton applauded Ferrari's meticulous preparations and expressed confidence as he heads to Melbourne, feeling "relaxed and in good shape."

Leclerc, energized by his wins at Monaco and Monza, acknowledged the powerful support from the fans, saying, "It motivates us so much. And we feel the responsibility when you are working for Ferrari and when you are driving for Ferrari. But the passion just makes everything and the energy so much more positive."

The highly anticipated Formula 1 season kicks off in Melbourne on March 16.

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