Italian journalist Roberto Chincero says a “Hamilton mania” has already begun in the country ahead of the 40-year-old Briton’s arrival, which he believes will require a heavy police presence to manage large crowds that are expected to gather on the streets near Ferrari’s headquarters.

Toto Wolff does not believe that Lewis Hamilton is past his prime but rather that he is struggling with the latest generation of F1 cars. In a warning to his new employer, Ferrari, the Mercedes chief assessed that the seven-time world champion’s late-braking and aggressive corner entries are mismatched with the desires of the current machines.

Carlos Sainz insists “not everything is roses and perfect” at Ferrari as Lewis Hamilton prepares for his debut campaign with the Scuderia and what the Spanish driver maintains will be a “very special experience”.