Maranello is not pretty; It is an industrial city. But it's a romantic place more than anything else.
You just had to stand on the long Via Giardini bridge on Wednesday at 8 in the morning. It was not a place for weak-blooded girls, however, with pom-pom hats, an old man next to me on crutches, teenagers and adults, they braved the freezing temperatures to get the view they craved.
They didn't know when it would arrive at Ferrari's private test track in Fiorano. So at seven in the morning the most enthusiastic and brave gathered. Others came a day early just in case.
However, it was 9:17 in the morning when the screech of an engine gave the signal of what was rapidly approaching. Many members of the congregation searched for their phones. The bridge, where we are now packed up to 10 people deep, is close to the starting corners, so the amateur cameramen had to act quickly.
The object of fascination waved as it passed, and then all we could hear again, as it faded from sight through thick fog that would have brought the M25 to a standstill, was the engine.
And in those few seconds Lewis Hamilton fulfilled his dream of driving a Ferrari.
Thousands gathered in Maranello to see Lewis Hamilton drive a Ferrari for the first time
Hamilton fulfilled his dream by doing so: he made the decision to join them from Mercedes.
Hundreds of tifosi risked their ligaments on the wet grassy shore to get closer to the action
He does not skimp on sentimentality, as he joined a cast made up of Nuvolari, Ascari, Fangio, Lauda, Villeneuve, Prost and a certain Michael Schumacher, as the driver in red.
And the people on the bridge could tell they were there when he did it.
How many tifosi attended? I estimate four or five thousand. Hundreds of people risked their ligaments on the wet grass-covered escarpment to get closer to the action, although it is not certain that they could see better through the fence.
There were a few officers with reflective vests around. All the parking spaces were sold out and the signs not to go up the Armco that separates the pedestrian part of the bridge from traffic were ignored. Otherwise, the crush might have been too much. Or at least that could have been his excuse for hoarding a high point of view.
Cars and trucks honked to indicate their contribution to the party below, right at the point where Maranello and Fiorano meet.
'Lew-ese,' cried some of the pilgrims as Hamilton passed by as if out of a cloud. Ferrari flags were waved. Banners were decorated, as was a Union flag.
The Fiorano track was built by Enzo Ferrari. It was 'Old Man', as the wily Italian was known, who led his team 10 miles from Modena to Maranello during the Second World War. Urbanized Modena, with its railway line and factories, was the target of Allied bombing. Maranello, more agricultural, then had a population of 6,500 inhabitants. It now has about 20,000 and is a center for ceramics and interior design.
Enzo bought five adjoining properties and that is the land on which the current factory, headquarters of the company, is located. sports management – the careers department.
They chanted Hamilton's name as Hamilton passed by as if out of a cloud.
Everyone wanted to see and take a photo of the seven-time champion dressed in Ferrari red.
Hamilton, in red, waved to his fans as he continued his Ferrari presentation at Fiorano.
But testing continued to take place in Modena until 1972. As legend has it, Ferrari wanted to do it on site, in Fiorano, so he could simply sit in his office (outside of which Hamilton was photographed on his first day of work on Monday) and listen to the music of their beloved scarlet cars. Or easily marvel at them from the slope. That's part of the romance.
Just 200 meters from the first of Fiorano's dozen corners is Ristorante Montana. It was Schumacher's favorite place when he was the golden son of Ferrari. According to his reputation, he remains their only five-time world champion.
It has wooden floors and wooden walls filled with Ferrari memorabilia. Racing suits, Schumacher's wing with the number '1', abundant photographs, tires, helmets and many dedications to the owners Maurizio and 'Mamma' Rossella Giannini.
One is from the 27-year-old who will accompany Hamilton in 2025, Charles Leclerc. He wrote: 'In Rossell, Best restaurant in the world. thanks for everything!'
The Giannini's have owned the venue since 1985. It has been open since 1967 and acts as a living monument to Ferrari.
Maurizio is in charge of the house, along with other members of the family; 'Mom' is the genie who presides downstairs in the kitchen.
At the back there is a small dining room with sliding doors, in which hangs a photo of 'Mamá' with Carlos Sainz, the Spaniard whom Hamilton replaces this season. This was the area of the restaurant where Schumacher ate.
And on Tuesday night, Lewis dined there with his father Anthony, mother Carmen and stepmother Linda, in the company of Piero Ferrari, Enzo Ferrari's second and only surviving son.
200 meters from the first curve of Fiorano is the Ristorante Montana, Michael Schumacher's favorite place when he was the golden son of Ferrari.
Hamilton dined there with his father Anthony, mother Carmen and stepmother Linda, along with Piero Ferrari (pictured) on Tuesday.
It was Piero himself, a serious billionaire and vice president of the company, who dealt directly with Hamilton for many years, when the now seven-time world champion was buying his Ferrari road cars. Strictly speaking, then, this week was not the first time that Hamilton crossed the doors of the Maranello factory.
Without avoiding difficulties in the name of research, I called on Wednesday at lunchtime to see Maurizio and order a plate of gramigna with sausage and a glass of Sangiovese. I asked this veteran of Ferrari drivers how he found Hamilton in his first appearances while eating his vegetarian ragù.
Maurizio, gray-haired and naturally warm, smiled. 'Perfect“he said. 'No arrogance. Calm. It's perfect for Ferrari.” He also moved his forearm back and forth in a pushing motion, which meant he was also strong enough when needed.
I had bumped into Anthony Hamilton that same night. I reminded him that some of us had never doubted the conviction that Lewis would end up at Ferrari before hanging up his helmet. 'Do you know why?' I asked.
'Was it because I always said so?' he smiled.
“Yes, 18 years ago,” I replied. He laughed and nodded. He also stated that Lewis had trained like crazy during the winter and that his concentration and confidence are total.
'Did you know?' Anthony added, thinking back to 2007 and Lewis' debut: “This feels like the first day at McLaren.”
In another echo of bygone eras, Hamilton yesterday wore a yellow helmet, the color matching the Ferrari crest but only a few shades different from the one he first wore karting as a boy at Rye House, Hertfordshire, so that his father could see it. There is a sense of an emotional circle coming full circle here, even as Hamilton moves in for more than £50m a year.
Anthony Hamilton always said that his son, Lewis, would end up at Ferrari, and now it has happened
Hamilton completed 30 laps of acclimatization on Wednesday, working with new race engineer Riccardo Adami.
He described driving a Ferrari as “one of the best feelings of my life” when his time ended.
Hamilton should know what he's getting into. It is not lost on him that Enzo Ferrari's name is imprinted all over Maranello: several streets, a statue and a park, probably more, are named after him.
You can see that the roundabout in the center of town has a giant Prancing Horse, Ferrari's emblem, right in the center. the real Ferrari Museum – not the ersatz version of Montana – is on the same street as the factory buildings, which are as gray and functional behind their giant yellow 'Ferrari' sign as you can imagine, for all their magic.
On Wednesday, Hamilton, who incidentally looked trim as he posed in his new red jumpsuit, completed 30 acclimatization laps, working with new race engineer Riccardo Adami, whom he kept after a long chat about Ferrari in general with his predecessor, his friend and four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel.
“Driving a Ferrari was one of the best feelings of my life,” Hamilton said at the end of his stint. 'I had the biggest smile on my face walking through the garage doors. Here I am living exciting and special moments almost 20 years after the first time.
'I already knew how passionate the Ferrari family is. But seeing the amateurs first hand it was impressive.'
Hamilton wouldn't have thought of it yesterday, but next to the rotunda is the red brick church of San Biagio. When I entered it was dark, silent and uninhabited, except for an old woman praying. Its stained glass windows were almost translucent despite the gray sky outside.
As tradition goes, they ring the bells on the tall tower beyond the north transept every time Ferrari wins, which they have done a record 249 times.
Hamilton, 40 years old and desperate for an eighth world title, knows they will soon take their toll on him.