"The whole Italy is going to stop on Sunday to watch Lewis Hamilton drive a Ferrari!": Former F1 champion on British driver's arrival in Maranello

Lewis Hamilton announced his mega move to Ferrari at the start of last year and is now officially a Prancing Horse driver. The former Mercedes man who spent 11 years in the Brackley-based team will take over his first Ferrari duties sometime next week in Fiorano. The move is perhaps the greatest ever in Formula 1 and former double champion Emerson Fittipaldi shared clear thoughts about the same.

The champion from Brazil suggested Fred Vasseur is putting the "family back together" as the Maranello team seeks to end the long-awaited title draught.

The two-time F1 champion said: (Quotes via Motorsportweek.com)

“Ferrari’s coming back strong. [You] can imagine Lewis at Ferrari. The whole [of] Italy is going to stop on Sunday, to watch Lewis drive a Ferrari! Lewis’ motivation, [it’s a] challenge to have a new team like Ferrari."

Fittipaldi continued,

"Every driver has a dream to drive for Ferrari. And I think that at the stage of his life, to be able to go to Ferrari, with Frederic Vasseur, who was his team [principal] in Formula 3 and Formula 2. The family’s getting back together again and that’s going to be a big challenge. I’m looking forward to seeing next season, should be very exciting for Lewis and Formula 1 is getting extremely competitive now."

Hamilton obviously is no stranger to winning. The signing of F1's most successful driver has Ferrari fans hopeful of a championship after losing the constructors title last season by 14 points against McLaren.

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Lewis Hamilton predicted to cause carnage in Italy as Ferrari arrival looms near

Italian F1 journalist Roberto Chinchero has shared a stunning verdict on the impact of Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari arrival. Chinchero believes Lewis' arrival at Maranello is "something not seen in ages", as the 105-time F1 race winner welcomes a new dawn in his illustrious career.

Speaking on the James Allen podcast, the Italian commented:

"When the first test of Lewis Hamilton in a Ferrari car take place, I cannot imagine the number of people that will be around the track. I’m expecting the Maranello and Fiorano streets will be filled with people. I’m expecting something that we haven’t seen in years. It will be hard work for the police."

The former Mercedes and McLaren man is rumored to drive Ferrari's SF-75 car from 2022 in Fiorano next week according to reports. However, Ferrari has yet to confirm the dates of when the Stevenage kid will finally step foot in the iconic red F1 car.

After ending a turbulent last season on a high in Abu Dhabi, Lewis Hamilton will be looking to hit the ground running in his new setting. Can the 7-time champion 'win back the championship that was taken from him' with Ferrari?