Lewis Hamilton receives two-word message from George Russell after leaving Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton spent his archetypal time arsenic a Ferrari operator astatine the team's Maranello mill connected Monday and was greeted with a connection from erstwhile Mercedes team-mate George Russell

George Russell has sent a touching connection to Lewis Hamilton pursuing his determination to Ferrari.

Formula 1 superstar Hamilton stirred excitement arsenic helium stepped ft successful Maranello, starting a caller travel with the legendary Ferrari connected Monday. The seven-time world champion caused a societal media meltdown with a snapshot connected Instagram arsenic helium stood proudly astatine Enzo Ferrari's aged home.

The station was wide adored by fans and rapidly raked successful much than 5 cardinal likes. Exuding charm successful a chic suit among fanatic Tifosi, Hamilton is embarking connected a caller travel astatine the property of 40.

"There are immoderate days that you cognize you'll retrieve everlastingly and today, my archetypal arsenic a Ferrari driver, is 1 of those days," work the caption. "I've been fortunate capable to person achieved things successful my vocation I ne'er thought possible, but portion of maine has ever held connected to that imagination of racing successful red.

"I couldn't beryllium happier to realise that imagination today. Today we commencement a caller epoch successful the past of this iconic team, and I can't hold to spot what communicative we volition constitute together."

Amid thousands of cheering messages, 1 stood retired from Russell - his ex-team-mate for 3 years and impending adversary. The camaraderie seen since Russell joined the Silver Arrows successful 2022 inactive shines done successful his heartfelt response.

The Mercedes operator replied "Auguri fratello", which is Italian for "best wishes, brother". Russell was successful attendance astatine Brackley erstwhile Mercedes offered their goodbyes to Hamilton - who won six of his 7 satellite titles with the squad - past month.

Hamilton and erstwhile team-mate Russell volition nary uncertainty beryllium acceptable for immoderate aggravated showdowns connected the circuit this season, though Ferrari look to person the precocious manus successful launching a rubric bid implicit Mercedes. One of their much heated moments connected way unfolded astatine the Qatar GP successful 2023 erstwhile Russell admitted helium was "lost for words" pursuing a collision with Hamilton.

Adding to the camaraderie, Hamilton's McLaren counterpart, Lando Norris, besides slid into the comments of his Instagram post. Norris cheekily commented connected Hamilton's attire with a abbreviated but sweet: "Don."

Before his power to Italy, Hamilton was a stalwart with UK teams – starting retired with McLaren earlier making the leap to Mercedes successful 2013. However, helium has already received a lukewarm invited from the fervent Ferrari fans.

They near a motion for him astatine the Fiorano circuit that read: "Welcome Hami 44, instrumentality the car to the racing track, travel on!" Anticipation is precocious up of Hamilton getting down to enactment successful an iconic mounting this week.