This wedding has to happen. With an unexpected twist, as she begins to face the last years of his luminous career, Lewis Hamilton she decided to wear red. Starting from 2025, the seven-time world champion will play for Ferrari, with the aim of overtaking Michael Schumacher at the top of the ranking of the most successful drivers in the history of Formula 1. For now paired with the German, the current Mercedes standard bearer is serving the final months in Toto Wolff’s team, which resembles a golden prison more than ever today. Immediately cut off from the title games, his mind already seems to be focused on the next championship. And what better way to get closer than by securing a Maranello jewel? Zero confirmation at the moment, nevertheless the clues suggest that the Ferrari 499P Modified plucked on the circuit is indeed his.
Two clues provide proof (or confirmation?)
A couple of details suggest it, immediately picked up by fans and professionals: the yellow-black livery and the number 44, visible on the bonnet and on both sides. Talking about overwhelming evidence is perhaps imprudent, but the elements suggest there is something concrete underneath, rather than a banal coincidence. And then where do we put Lewis Hamilton’s visceral passion for exclusive, tailor-made models? See the Pagani Zonda 760LH which already embellishes the 39-year-old’s fleet.
In case you missed the “previous episodes”, the Ferrari 499P Modificata was presented in the second half of last October to celebrate a sporting triumph. If exploits are scarce in Formula 1, with the enthusiasm generated by Leclerc’s triumph in Monaco immediately cooling in Canada, where the Ferraris were not fast, at the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2023 it was a success across the board. Even the dedicated special edition is a racing car, which, however, adds further power, exempted from the burden of subjecting to rigid regulatory constraints. Hybrid type, the powertrain generates 870 hpa marked increase compared to the 680 sanctioned by the FIA.
Hybrid powertrain for first-class technical values
Exuberance comes from working in synergy between the 3.0-liter twin-turbo six-cylinder, derived from the 296 GTB, and the 272 HP electric module located on the front axle. At maximum power and at any speed, the zero-emission unit supports the driver both during acceleration and cornering. Quite another thing in relation to the car used in the World Endurance Championship, where it comes into operation once the speed of 190 km/h is exceeded. The seven-speed sequential transmission, also derived from the 499P competition, operates in combination with the hybrid engine.
Instead, they are the shock absorbers and anti-roll bars were calibrated ad hoc, in such a way as to allow even a non-professional pilot to take measurements. In this circumstance the problem would not arise, given the crystalline talent of Sir Lewis, a legend in the flesh. The price? Chilling, within the reach of nabobs, starting from the “monster” threshold of 5.1 million euros. The package includes two years of assistance on the circuit at the events organized by Cavallino through the new Sport Prototipo Clienti programme.
