Hamilton claims ‘most-liked victory’ over new Ferrari-team-mate Leclerc

Lewis Hamilton has only been with Ferrari for three days but he has already scored a minor triumph – of sorts – over new team-mate Charles Leclerc.

On September 1 last year, Leclerc added a photo to his Instagram account that rapidly went viral and went on to become the most-liked F1 post on the social channel, currently standing at 4.6 million.

It was a stunning selfie image of Leclerc on the podium at Monza following his Italian Grand Prix triumph, clutching the winner’s trophy in one hand, and with a sea of fans stretching far away behind him down the main straight at the famed circuit.

But then along comes seven-time F1 champion Hamilton.

On Hamilton’s first day on the job on Monday, primarily a meet-and-greet tour of the Ferrari staff at the Scuderia’s headquarters in Maranello, Hamilton posted a straightforward but significant image.

Sartorially dressed in a black suit and a tie, and with a long, black overcoat draped over his shoulders, Hamilton stood in front of the building where Enzo Ferrari once ran the Scuderia, whilst to his side was an F-40, the British driver’s favourite supercar.

Accompanying the image were a few words from Hamilton, notably expressing the fact that in joining Ferrari, he was realising a long-held dream, and that it was the start of “a new era in the history of this iconic team, and I can’t wait to see what story we will write together”.

It has already racked up 5.3m likes and is still climbing. Quite remarkable!