The seven-time F1 champion has already named the vehicle F44.
Back when Lewis Hamilton was excelling in Formula 1 with Mercedes, he showed enthusiasm for creating a special edition of the AMG One. That was way back in 2019, and nothing has been heard about a customized version of the Formula 1-inspired supercar since then. Currently driving for Ferrari, the seven-time world champion now wants to work together on a road-going vehicle adorned with the Prancing Horse logo. He has also chosen a moniker for this project: F44.
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Hamilton remarks that he aims to contribute to developing a street-legal Ferrari that honors the F40. Designing an appropriate heir to this renowned supercar wouldn’t be easy—not only due to its importance in Ferrari’s history. The celebrated F40 was the final model greenlit by Enzo Ferrari prior to his death in 1988, one year following its release.
I have this strong desire to create a new Ferrari model; specifically, an F44. It would be based on the fundamentals of an F40 but include a manual transmission. This project will occupy my focus over the coming years.
It comes as no shock that he opted for the F40. On his inaugural day officially joining Ferrari, the British racer was photographed alongside the V8-equipped vehicle in Maranello. Prior to changing teams, Hamilton had amassed an extensive Ferrari lineup using his own savings, featuring models like the 599 GTO and LaFerrabi, complete with their convertible variants (Aperta). Despite this, an F40 doesn’t yet grace his current collection.
McLaren rival Lando Norris
is said to possess one of the 1,311 units manufactured between 1987 and 1992.
Although Hamilton’s concept may appear as nothing more than optimistic speculation, reports indicate that Ferrari is seriously contemplating this possibility.
F40 revival
Last November, Top Gear magazine suggested that this vehicle might become part of Ferrari’s exclusive “Icona” lineup, which includes models like the Monza SP1/SP2 and Daytona SP3. It was rumored that the car would draw inspiration from the older LaFerrari instead of the newer F80 model and potentially use only a non-hybrid version of its V-12 engine.
However, what if we informed you that Ferrari had already returned to the F40 design? In 2018, the company presented the
SP38
As a single-piece creation inspired by the 488 GTB, this custom project was commissioned by “one of Ferrari’s most loyal clients.” The distinctive design draws inspiration from one of the most famous posters from the 1980s. Nevertheless, what Hamilton proposes and recent rumors suggest is that we might see an authentic F40 homage in the near future.
For now, Hamilton has more pressing issues to deal with. His first season racing for Ferrari hasn’t begun well. He came in tenth place at the Australian round and secured sixth position at the recent Chinese Grand Prix. Adding insult to injury, he was later excluded from yesterday’s race due to excessive wear detected on the underside of his car during post-race inspections.
The driver who is 40 years old needs to get up to speed with the SF-25 first before having the chance to focus on additional endeavors.
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Source: Motorsport
