Lewis Hamilton’s performances this season may paint a disappointing picture of his first year with Ferrari, but a viral clip ahead of the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix reminds us why he remains one of Formula 1’s best-loved drivers.
During a Ferrari fan appearance in the paddock, Hamilton was handed a microphone on the podium before entering the crowd. The seven-time world champion ran up to a young fan dressed head to toe in Ferrari gear. The fan stood up from his pushchair for Hamilton, who knelt down to embrace him.
As photos of the two were taken, the child wrapped his arms around the driver. Wearing a Ferrari cap bearing the number 44, the child then returned to play with his miniature Ferrari F1 car.
Social media reaction to the moment was immediate, with it soon being picked up by fan accounts on multiple sites. The replies, as you can imagine, were filled with heart and crying emojis, with one fan writing that the moment was “so heartwarming”, while another said they had “tears in their eyes, so beautiful”. Another believed that the moment “means as much to Lewis as it does to the young fan,” calling it a “healing moment” for a driver who has endured a brutal season.
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photo by: Sam Bagnall/Sutton, Images via Getty Images
Hamilton is known for going the extra mile with his supporters. Over the years he has been known to stop frequently to greet fans and sign merchandise.
Both sides of this beautiful moment were difficult for the driver, who crashed his Scuderia machinery in FP3. Qualifying was equally painful, with Hamilton once again crashing out of the session in Q1, and qualifying 16th on the grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix. Admitting that he had “a lot of anger” after another disappointing season, he said that his Ferrari team “deserved better”.
Despite this frustration, a moment with a fan had fans wishing for a “happier Lewis Hamilton in 2026”.
Photos from Abu Dhabi GP – Practice and Qualifying
