At Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters, history met the present.

Lewis Hamilton sent F1 fans into a frenzy after posting a photo of himself lifting the red cover off one of the most iconic cars in Formula 1 history — Ferrari F2004, the machine that defined Michael Schumacher’s golden era.

The image, shared ahead of pre-season testing, shows Hamilton peeking beneath the covers at Maranello — a symbolic moment as he prepares for his second full season in red.

And the timing couldn’t be more powerful.

The Shadow of 2004

The F2004 remains one of the most dominant cars ever built. In 2004, Schumacher won 13 of 18 races, and Ferrari claimed 15 victories that season — an era of near-total supremacy.

It was Schumacher’s fifth consecutive title with Ferrari and the final championship of his legendary career.

Two decades later, Hamilton now walks the same corridors at Maranello, chasing his own revival story.

A Difficult 2025 — A Reset in 2026

Hamilton’s first Ferrari campaign in 2025 fell short of expectations. For the first time in his career, the seven-time world champion finished a season without a single podium, ending 86 points behind teammate Charles Leclerc.

But 2026 offers a clean slate.

New regulations.
New engineering direction.
And Ferrari’s SF-26, the first car fully shaped by Hamilton’s technical input.

The Brit recently topped the timesheets during early running in Barcelona and admitted he was “having fun” again — a small but significant shift in tone.

A Legacy Moment

Hamilton replacing Schumacher at Mercedes back in 2013 marked a generational shift in Formula 1. Now, standing beside Schumacher’s most dominant Ferrari, the symbolism is unmistakable.

The moment also coincides with LEGO’s announcement of a 2004-spec Schumacher F2004 set launching in 2026 — complete with a podium and a quote from the German legend:

“I’ve always believed that you should never, ever give up and you should always keep fighting even when there’s only the slightest chance.”

Words that resonate strongly for Hamilton as he chases one more championship push.

Inspiration — Or Pressure?

For Ferrari fans, the image sparks emotion. For Hamilton, it may represent both inspiration and expectation.

The F2004 is a reminder of what Ferrari greatness looks like.
And the question now is simple:

Can Hamilton bring the Scuderia back to that level?

2026 will tell the story.