1000’s pack Milan’s Piazza Castello to greet Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton forward of season opener.
Over twenty thousand followers from throughout Europe flocked to the Piazza and surrounding streets, turning Milan pink as they turned out for Leclerc, Hamilton and Fred Vasseur on the “Drivers’ Presentation by UniCredit” occasion.
It was organised along with the pan-European financial institution, one of many workforce’s Premium Companions, and, in accordance with the discharge, “featured emotion, ardour and velocity”, because the workforce returned to town for the primary time in six years.
Essentially the most hardcore followers have been already in Milan on the break of day, to say a entrance row seat close to the stage, and from mid-afternoon onwards a DJ set stored the gang entertained, earlier than the primary of the particular company arrived on stage, Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna and UniCredit CEO Andrea Orcel, the place they have been met by Sky Sport presenters Carlo Vanzini and Vicky Piria.
The significance of the partnership between the 2 firms was the primary theme. “The collaboration between UniCredit and Scuderia Ferrari HP can be about particular occasions like this,” mentioned Vigna. “And Milan is completely the best place for this, as our companion’s headquarters are right here and in Milan you possibly can really feel the identical ambiance we take pleasure in yearly in Monza, “Let’s hope this pink painted sq. is an effective omen for an awesome season,” added Orcel.
Then got here one of many highlights of the occasion: at 17.15 Leclerc and Hamilton climbed into the cockpits of the 2019 SF90 and the 2021 SF21 respectively, to placed on a present.
Leclerc was first out, impressing the gang, that included many members of the Scuderia Ferrari Golf equipment, with some doughnuts, whereas the mechanics confirmed their ability with some pit stops. Hamilton was up subsequent, doing the identical as his team-mate, in addition to ending with a couple of burn-outs and a few deliberate spins a lot to the delight of the followers lining the obstacles, in addition to all these watching on Sky Sport Italia.
Whereas the 2 drivers did some additional parade laps in a Ferrari SF90 Spider pushed by Ferrari’s Head of Improvement Drivers, Raffaele De Simone, Vasseur received up on stage to salute the followers in Italian.
“Thanks to your unwavering help and for being right here in the present day,” he mentioned, earlier than persevering with in English, “this sq. is admittedly one thing particular and occasions like in the present day’s remind us how robust is the fervour for our workforce. We’re all set for an thrilling season and I can guarantee you we’ll give it our greatest shot.”
Then it was time for Leclerc and Hamilton on stage, and the Monegasque clearly loved the welcome. “Milan has delivered an unbelievable ambiance once more in the present day. Feeling all this love offers us an actual increase for the approaching championship,” he mentioned. “Over the winter we have now labored more durable than ever to be in the absolute best form and we hope we will get some nice outcomes, possibly already in Australia.”
Leclerc then joined in because the Italian nationwide anthem rang out, promising to show Lewis the phrases over the approaching season.
At his first official look in Italy with Ferrari, the Englishman was visibly impressed by the nice and cozy welcome he was given.
“Carrying pink and experiencing an occasion like that is one thing particular, as is being right here with you in entrance of some historic automobiles together with ones that Michael Schumacher raced,” he revealed, referring to the F2004 and the 2006 248 F1.
“As we speak is one other first to go along with others I am experiencing in what’s already an unforgettable season for me. I can not wait to get on observe with this extraordinary workforce,” he added, explaining that he’s at present studying Italian. “I believe we have now every thing we have to struggle for the World Championship and I additionally imagine that you just followers will be our further gear. I hope we could have a whole lot of enjoyable collectively.”
