George Russell had never seen Lewis Hamilton do one thing before his first Ferrari appearance

George Russell and Lewis Hamilton met on the red carpet at the F1 75 event this week. It was their first interaction since Hamilton’s Mercedes farewell tour back in December.

While Hamilton’s final season was a disappointment, there was a warmth to his farewell. Russell delivered an emotional speech to the Brackley factory, having idolised the seven-time world champion when he was growing up.

Hamilton spent 12 seasons at Mercedes, where he won six of his titles – a record with a single team. As such, any ill-feeling over his exit would have been unjustified.

Russell thinks Hamilton will benefit from a fresh start at Ferrari. 2024 was statistically his poorest campaign, but he already looks reinvigorated in his new surroundings.

F1 75 host Jack Whitehall may have jokingly called Hamilton’s exit Toto Wolff’s nightmare, but the Mercedes boss seems comfortable. It has allowed him to promote Kimi Antonelli, the jewel of his academy.

Hamilton’s relationship with his former employers could be tested if they clash on track next season. He has a reputation as a respectful racer, but won’t be subject to the same rules of engagement with Russell.

George Russell’s tie observation shows the change in Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari

Journalist Nate Saunders, speaking on ESPN’s Unlapped podcast, offered an anecdote from the red carpet at F1 75. There was a pleasant exchange between Hamilton and the Mercedes trio who later went up on stage.

Russell was interviewed immediately after, and the 27-year-old quipped that he’d never seen his old teammate in a tie before. While it was a remark made in jest, Saunders felt it carried a significant meaning.

Hamilton is passionate about fashion and is known for breaking tradition with his attire in the F1 paddock. But this year, he’s embraced the ‘Ferrari look’.

That points to his willingness to fit into the team’s pre-established brand. In his first official portrait at Maranello, he donned a thick overcoat over a double-breasted suit.

“There was like this rush of the Mercedes guys towards Lewis,” Saunders recalled. “George, Toto and Kimi Antonelli went up to him, and he looked so happy to be there. But then George came straight to us after that to talk. He said ‘this is the first time I’ve ever seen Lewis wearing a tie’.

“He was joking, but you usually expect to see Lewis at these things in an outfit that makes you go ‘wow, look at Lewis today’. And he and Charles were dressed exactly the same. I love that even Lewis was like, ‘no, I’m going to rock the Ferrari look’.”

What Lewis Hamilton is still missing at Ferrari just days before Bahrain test

Around a month after he started work at his new team, Hamilton agrees with Sebastian Vettel – everyone is a Ferrari fan. Rarely, if ever, has been there such a buzz over a driver transfer in F1.

The Scuderia managed to keep two of his tests in Barcelona behind closed doors. But his outings at Fiorano have inevitably drawn a large crowd.

On Wednesday, he drove the SF-25 for the first time. Ferrari have played down talk of ‘miraculous’ lap times, calling for patience.

Hamilton still doesn’t have his desired steering wheel setup with just four days to go before the official pre-season test in Bahrain. That shows that he’s still very much in the thick of the adaptation period.