Despite the many criticisms sparked by the new Ferrari Luce, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have publicly defended Ferrari’s first 100% electric model that made headlines yesterday.
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The unveiling of the Luce deeply divided enthusiasts and observers of the automotive industry. After its launch, Ferrari faced strong stock market pressure and several historic figures of the brand expressed their reservations, even hostility.
The former president of Ferrari, Luca di Montezemolo, notably believed that the manufacturer risked destroying a legend and even went as far as suggesting that the famous prancing horse should not appear on this model.
The DNA of Ferrari
On his side, Flavio Briatore had joked by stating that the main advantage of the car was that “the Chinese certainly wouldn’t copy it.” But the two Ferrari drivers, who had the chance to drive the vehicle, show a completely different vision.
Hamilton was particularly impressed by the level of finish and character of the model: “When you look at the attention to detail, you immediately recognize the Ferrari DNA,” explained the seven-time world champion.
Leclerc, for his part, praised an important decision regarding the interior: “At a time when many manufacturers are multiplying touchscreens, Ferrari chose to reintroduce more physical controls. I love the fact that there are more physical buttons again. It really allows you to drive, keep your eyes on the road, and feel the controls naturally.”
Hamilton especially emphasized the dynamic qualities of the car: “The way the power is delivered is incredible. You feel perfectly centered in the car, even in corners.”
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Cutting-edge technology
The Brit also highlighted one of the main technical advantages of the electric architecture: an extremely low center of gravity thanks to the placement of the batteries: “When we went over bumps or curbs, the car stayed constantly glued to the ground. For me, that’s probably the most impressive thing about this technology. The center of gravity is very low and it’s really pleasant. Many cars experience body roll. This one hardly does.”
Even Leclerc, usually very attached to Ferraris equipped with traditional combustion engines, admits to being surprised by an element often criticized in electric vehicles: their sound.
“There is this electric sound that, in the end, I quite liked,” he admitted. “It’s pretty nice. And it helps maintain a connection with the car.”
Try it, and you’ll adopt it
The president of Ferrari, John Elkann, states that the engineers worked intensively to preserve the emotions traditionally associated with the prancing horse brand: “Ferrari worked a lot so that the driver can feel the car, vibrate with it, and keep this emotional connection.”
Even Piero Ferrari, son of the founder Enzo Ferrari, wanted to defend the new project: “Those who want to criticize can do so. But I would simply answer them: come see it and try it. Once you have driven it, you will probably change your mind.”
Beyond the debate around electrification, the Ferrari Luce mainly symbolizes a historic turning point for the Maranello brand: that of a manufacturer trying to preserve its emotional identity while entering a new technological era.
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