Inside Lewis Hamilton’s dinner at Michael Schumacher’s favourite restaurant loved by Cristiano Ronaldo
Lewis Hamilton’s father revealed his son ‘trained like mad’ for his Ferrari debut – with the F1 star rewarded with a dinner of champions. The seven-time world champion has enjoyed a dream start to life with the Prancing Horse after his first visit to Maranello. Hamilton was given the full Ferrari treatment during his first visit to FioranoGetty Days after his unveiling as a Ferrari driver, the Brit superstar took to the Fiorano Modenese test track in the Ferrari SF-23. His outing in an older model was due to F1’s TPC (Testing of Previous Car) rules, which state that teams can only use cars older than two years for private test sessions, to avoid drivers gaining competitive edges over their rivals. Fans of the Scuderia regularly attend the first laps of the season, but Hamilton was given the Michael Schumacher treatment this week. Mario Salvini from La Gazzetta dello Sport told talkSPORT: “We were waiting since yesterday morning on the bridge, the only point on the street where you can have a look at the track. It’s a tradition when the season begins. “A lot of people told me they’ve never seen anything like it, maybe the last years of Michael Schumacher after three or four world championships with Ferrari but for sure, in the last 25 years nobody has seen anything like this.” Hamilton will be acutely aware of comparisons to Schumacher, with the pair the only two seven-time champions in F1’s history. He is already attempting to emulate the German’s pathway to end F1’s most successful team’s long wait for a title – as Schumacher did with his first Ferrari championship in 2000. First, Hamilton literally followed in Schumacher’s footsteps to the latter’s favourite restaurant frequented by Ferrari legends. Situated just 200 yards from Fiorano’s first corner, Ristorante Montana holds a special place at the heart of Maranello. On Tuesday, Hamilton dined at the Italian haunt with his father Anthony, mother Carmen Larbalestier and stepmother Linda, as well as the second and only surviving son of Enzo Ferrari, Piero. Schumacher visited the restaurant every time he was in MaranelloInstagram/Ristorante Montana Hamilton was the guest of Enzo Ferrari’s sonGetty Speaking to The Daily Mail, restaurant co-owner Maurizio Giannini hailed Hamilton’s demeanour, describing him as ‘Perfecto’. The veteran staff member added: “No arrogance. Tranquillo. He is just right for Ferrari.” Reknown for his vegan lifestyle, Hamilton opted for a vegetarian ragu – which was whipped up by ‘Mamma’ Rossella Giannini. The legendary chef has cooked for Ferrari past-and-present Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz, Fernando Alonso, and Sebastian Vettel. Manchester City striker Erling Haaland described it as the best pasta he’s ever had during a visit last year. Even famously diet-crazy Cristiano Ronaldo was also unable to resist the rich cooking during his tenure in Italy with Juventus. “He [Ronaldo] ate fried dumplings with cured meats and pasta – lasagna, tortellini and gramigna – plus tiramisu for dessert,” Rossella told the Mail. Ronaldo ate dumplings, pasta and tiramisu during an evening thereInstagram/Ristorante Montana Haaland paid the ultimate compliment when he dined at the Italian hotspotInstagram/ Ristorante Montana However, never was her bond with a celebrity greater than with Schumacher during his reign as the Tifosi’s hero. During his peak years at Ferrari, Schumacher and team principal Jean Todt would dine on tagliatelle al ragù prepared by Rossella. Ahead of the 2023 F1 season, when asked by German publication Bild am Sonntag if she still misses Schumi, the chef replied: “Every day. “I also have a lot of photos of him here, so of course I think about him a lot. I miss him. I miss my friend.” A picture of Schumacher adorned on the wall is the most coveted among the F1 memorabilia in the restaurant. “To my mama Rossella,” reads Schumacher’s hand-written message in Italian on the canvas. “Thank you for everything.” Hamilton’s evening inside the sacred ground will undoubtedly only enhance his excitement as he gets to grip with life at Ferrari. His father Anthony confirmed to the outlet that his son ‘trained like mad’ over the winter, adding his ‘focus and belief are total’. After his drive in Fiorano, Hamilton described it as ‘one of the best feelings of my life’ – second only to his meal the night before…
Lewis Hamilton’s father revealed his son ‘trained like mad’ for his Ferrari debut – with the F1 star rewarded with a dinner of champions.
The seven-time world champion has enjoyed a dream start to life with the Prancing Horse after his first visit to Maranello.
Days after his unveiling as a Ferrari driver, the Brit superstar took to the Fiorano Modenese test track in the Ferrari SF-23.
His outing in an older model was due to F1’s TPC (Testing of Previous Car) rules, which state that teams can only use cars older than two years for private test sessions, to avoid drivers gaining competitive edges over their rivals.
Fans of the Scuderia regularly attend the first laps of the season, but Hamilton was given the Michael Schumacher treatment this week.
Mario Salvini from La Gazzetta dello Sport told talkSPORT: “We were waiting since yesterday morning on the bridge, the only point on the street where you can have a look at the track. It’s a tradition when the season begins.
“A lot of people told me they’ve never seen anything like it, maybe the last years of Michael Schumacher after three or four world championships with Ferrari but for sure, in the last 25 years nobody has seen anything like this.”
Hamilton will be acutely aware of comparisons to Schumacher, with the pair the only two seven-time champions in F1’s history.
He is already attempting to emulate the German’s pathway to end F1’s most successful team’s long wait for a title – as Schumacher did with his first Ferrari championship in 2000.
First, Hamilton literally followed in Schumacher’s footsteps to the latter’s favourite restaurant frequented by Ferrari legends.
Situated just 200 yards from Fiorano’s first corner, Ristorante Montana holds a special place at the heart of Maranello.
On Tuesday, Hamilton dined at the Italian haunt with his father Anthony, mother Carmen Larbalestier and stepmother Linda, as well as the second and only surviving son of Enzo Ferrari, Piero.
Speaking to The Daily Mail, restaurant co-owner Maurizio Giannini hailed Hamilton’s demeanour, describing him as ‘Perfecto’.
The veteran staff member added: “No arrogance. Tranquillo. He is just right for Ferrari.”
Reknown for his vegan lifestyle, Hamilton opted for a vegetarian ragu – which was whipped up by ‘Mamma’ Rossella Giannini.
The legendary chef has cooked for Ferrari past-and-present Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz, Fernando Alonso, and Sebastian Vettel.
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland described it as the best pasta he’s ever had during a visit last year.
Even famously diet-crazy Cristiano Ronaldo was also unable to resist the rich cooking during his tenure in Italy with Juventus.
“He [Ronaldo] ate fried dumplings with cured meats and pasta – lasagna, tortellini and gramigna – plus tiramisu for dessert,” Rossella told the Mail.
However, never was her bond with a celebrity greater than with Schumacher during his reign as the Tifosi’s hero.
During his peak years at Ferrari, Schumacher and team principal Jean Todt would dine on tagliatelle al ragù prepared by Rossella.
Ahead of the 2023 F1 season, when asked by German publication Bild am Sonntag if she still misses Schumi, the chef replied: “Every day.
“I also have a lot of photos of him here, so of course I think about him a lot. I miss him. I miss my friend.”
A picture of Schumacher adorned on the wall is the most coveted among the F1 memorabilia in the restaurant.
“To my mama Rossella,” reads Schumacher’s hand-written message in Italian on the canvas. “Thank you for everything.”
Hamilton’s evening inside the sacred ground will undoubtedly only enhance his excitement as he gets to grip with life at Ferrari.
His father Anthony confirmed to the outlet that his son ‘trained like mad’ over the winter, adding his ‘focus and belief are total’.
After his drive in Fiorano, Hamilton described it as ‘one of the best feelings of my life’ – second only to his meal the night before…
