Lewis Hamilton shows class by leaving note at restaurant days after debut disappointment
Lewis Hamilton’s early Ferrari disappointment is nothing that can’t be sorted out by a spot of Italian food. The Brit ended up a disappointing tenth in his first race in red in Australia, although he and teammate Charles Leclerc were running higher before their team got their strategy wrong when it came to rain and safety cars. Hamilton had a tricky opener, but popped back to ItalyGetty That still does little to deflect from a difficult start, with Ferrari touted as potential title challengers after pre-season testing. Hamilton admitted his debut ‘wasn’t what he’d hoped for’ and called adjusting to a new car for the first time in 13 years ‘very, very tricky’. However, he’s been quick to showcase the work ethic that’s led him to a joint record seven world titles, appearing to nip back to Ferrari’s training base in the few days before the next race in China. There, he even had time to visit a local restaurant, and gave them a gift to be remembered. Ristorante Montana near their Fiorano training base posted a picture of a signed napkin from the 40-year-old with the caption: “New napkin at Ristorante Montana.” On it, Hamilton wrote in Italian: “To Rossella, thank you for the food, very good!” and added his autograph, car number 44, and the year. The Brit, who is learning Italian, did make one small error writing ‘cibo’ or food, as ‘chibo’ as that’s how it’s pronounced in Italian. That mistake will do little to dent the pride of the restaurant, though, who frame souvenirs from celebrity attendees, with Hamilton’s napkin likely to get pride of place on one of their walls. The restaurant has shirts hung of numerous Italy internationals who have visited, while they also possess an iconic picture of Michael Schumacher, Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa attending in Ferrari gear. Hamilton is already looking to one-up the legendary Schumacher by learning Italian, something the German famously failed to do in his 11 years with the team. The note will take pride of place at the restaurant@ristorantemontana Yet, he won’t be as fixed to Fiorano as Schumacher, who used Enzo Ferrari’s old house as his base when he was in Italy. Hamilton, who owns properties in London, Monaco, Geneva and New York, dismissed the possibility in November, contradicting reports in Italy. “It was not something I was talking about,” he said during the Las Vegas Grand Prix. “I look forward to one day getting to see the building and the legendary room because that’s still the same as when he was there. “But no, I don’t think I would stay there.” Next up for Hamilton and Ferrari is the Chinese Grand Prix, where it’s set to be dry, hopefully making for a better strategy so the Prancing Horse can show its class.
Lewis Hamilton’s early Ferrari disappointment is nothing that can’t be sorted out by a spot of Italian food.
The Brit ended up a disappointing tenth in his first race in red in Australia, although he and teammate Charles Leclerc were running higher before their team got their strategy wrong when it came to rain and safety cars.
That still does little to deflect from a difficult start, with Ferrari touted as potential title challengers after pre-season testing.
Hamilton admitted his debut ‘wasn’t what he’d hoped for’ and called adjusting to a new car for the first time in 13 years ‘very, very tricky’.
However, he’s been quick to showcase the work ethic that’s led him to a joint record seven world titles, appearing to nip back to Ferrari’s training base in the few days before the next race in China.
There, he even had time to visit a local restaurant, and gave them a gift to be remembered.
Ristorante Montana near their Fiorano training base posted a picture of a signed napkin from the 40-year-old with the caption: “New napkin at Ristorante Montana.”
On it, Hamilton wrote in Italian: “To Rossella, thank you for the food, very good!” and added his autograph, car number 44, and the year.
The Brit, who is learning Italian, did make one small error writing ‘cibo’ or food, as ‘chibo’ as that’s how it’s pronounced in Italian.
That mistake will do little to dent the pride of the restaurant, though, who frame souvenirs from celebrity attendees, with Hamilton’s napkin likely to get pride of place on one of their walls.
The restaurant has shirts hung of numerous Italy internationals who have visited, while they also possess an iconic picture of Michael Schumacher, Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa attending in Ferrari gear.
Hamilton is already looking to one-up the legendary Schumacher by learning Italian, something the German famously failed to do in his 11 years with the team.
Yet, he won’t be as fixed to Fiorano as Schumacher, who used Enzo Ferrari’s old house as his base when he was in Italy.
Hamilton, who owns properties in London, Monaco, Geneva and New York, dismissed the possibility in November, contradicting reports in Italy.
“It was not something I was talking about,” he said during the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
“I look forward to one day getting to see the building and the legendary room because that’s still the same as when he was there.
“But no, I don’t think I would stay there.”
Next up for Hamilton and Ferrari is the Chinese Grand Prix, where it’s set to be dry, hopefully making for a better strategy so the Prancing Horse can show its class.
