Lewis Hamilton released the complete video of his Ferrari F40 restoration on YouTube after revealing the car ahead of the Italian Grand Prix earlier this year. The seven-time Formula 1 champion drove the car for his first Ferrari photo shoot when he joined the team, describing it as one of the most iconic cars ever built.
The 1991 Ferrari was purchased with just 69 kilometers on the odometer after being parked in a garage since delivery and never started again. Hamilton discovered the car covered in dust after sitting unused for over thirty years, prompting him to bring it back to life at Ferrari's Maranello facility.
The restoration took weeks of work by Ferrari's master engineers and mechanics at the factory. The video shows Hamilton's excitement as he pulled the cover off the finished car, exclaiming "She looks so good!" and "Wow! She looks brand new!" before starting the 2.9-liter twin-turbo V8 engine.
Hamilton described the project as a dream come true, noting he had dreamed of owning a Ferrari F40 since childhood. The restoration culminated in a photo shoot at Monza's disused banked corner, creating what became a famous image for the Ferrari F1 team showcasing the connection between past and present.