Michael Schumacher's friend gives immediate verdict on Lewis Hamilton after witnessing him up close at Ferrari unveiling

A friend of Michael Schumacher has given his verdict on Lewis Hamilton after witnessing his Ferrari unveiling in Maranello.

Hamilton attended the Italian city this week for his first official days as a Ferrari driver after signing a multi-year contract with the Scuderia from 2025 onwards.

He tested a 2023 Ferrari at the Fiorano test track on Wednesday, and got acquainted with members of his new team including race engineer Riccardo Adami.

On Monday, he had several official photos taken outside the former home of Ferrari founder Enzo Ferrari.

Lewis Hamilton met Ferrari fans on Monday (Image: Getty)

Naturally, the city of Maranello is full of references to Schumacher, who won five world titles with the team that he raced for between 1997 and 2006.

In fact, only one Ferrari driver has lifted the world championship since Schumacher's final title in 2004 - Kimi Raikkonen, in 2007.

The Daily Mail's Jonathan McEvoy visited a Maranello restaurant dubbed as Schumacher's favourite while he was a Ferrari driver.

The restaurant, Ristorante Montana, is owned by Maurizio and Rossella Giannini, and has played host to a number of iconic Ferrari drivers both past and present over the years.

And when asked for his first impressions of Hamilton as a new Ferrari driver, Maurizio simply replied: "Perfecto. No arrogance. Tranquillo.

"He is just right for Ferrari."

Michael Schumacher stayed in Enzo Ferrari's house when he was in Maranello (Image: Getty)

Schumacher's impact on the restaurant's owners was illustrated by Rossella when she spoke to the Daily Mail in 2023: "Breakfast, lunch and dinner he would come here. He was everything.

"He called me his Italian mama and he was like another son to me."

As for Hamilton, he will next drive a Ferrari car at the Circuit de Catalunya between January 28-30.

Hamilton and team-mate Charles Leclerc will complete laps behind closed doors in one of Ferrari's older cars - either the 2023, 2022 or 2021 cars - and will have their mileage subtracted from the 1,000km limit that current drivers are allowed to use up over no more than four days in a calendar year as part of the FIA's Testing Previous Cars regulations.