Key Highlights:
- Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc temporarily took over Ferrari’s official social media channels during the Singapore Grand Prix weekend.
- Given a 20-minute window of unrestricted access, the drivers disrupted team meetings, broadcast live video, and updated profile pictures.
- Ferrari responded with a humorous statement confirming the “unauthorised control” had been resolved after the resulting video rapidly passed 40,000 views.
Inside Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari Channel Hijack
Scuderia Ferrari has pulled back the curtain on a lighthearted stunt featuring drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. Behind-the-scenes footage released by the Italian outfit details how the two Formula 1 drivers were granted a 20-minute window of unrestricted access to the team’s official social media accounts during the Singapore Grand Prix weekend, resulting in immediate chaos across their digital channels.
Upon taking the reins, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton quickly admitted his unfamiliarity with handling day-to-day platform tools, explaining: “I haven’t posted my own content for so long I actually don’t even know how to use the app.” Stepping in to guide the effort, Leclerc immediately directed Hamilton to capture an extreme close-up selfie intended to serve as Ferrari’s new social media profile picture.
Hospitality Tours, Scooters, and Live Streams
The stunt unfolded rapidly as both drivers made full use of their unmonitored timeframe across the paddock. Content published during the brief takeover included Hamilton offering fans a spontaneous look inside Ferrari’s hospitality building, Leclerc cruising around on Hamilton’s scooter, and both competitors barging in on internal team meetings. The duo also launched spontaneous live streams to interact with surprised followers who tuned in in real time.
Following the antics, the team published a tongue-in-cheek response addressing the unapproved posts. Scuderia Ferrari HP noted:
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“Scuderia Ferrari HP confirms that, over the past two hours, two individuals within the organisation gained unauthorised control of our social media channels,” the team wrote.
“During this period, a series of highly questionable editorial decisions were made, including changes to our profile picture and the publication of content that did not undergo our standard approval procedures.
“We can confirm that the two suspects have been identified and the situation has now been contained. Full control of our accounts has been restored.
Advertisement“We thank our fans for their understanding during this unprecedented incident.”
Why This Matters
The digital stunt highlights Ferrari’s evolving public relations and content strategy, showcasing the dynamic and off-track chemistry between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. For years, Formula 1 teams operated with rigid, corporate-controlled marketing strategies; however, behind-the-scenes and driver-led digital moments have become vital for cultivating younger fan bases and driving strong online engagement.
Fan reception to the Singapore GP stunt has been overwhelmingly positive. The behind-the-scenes video quickly crossed 40,000 views on YouTube, drawing widespread praise in the comments. “WE NEED MORE CONTENT LIKE THISS,” one fan commented on the YouTube video, while another added: “We needed every month please.” A third supporter noted the evolving team dynamic, writing: “I love you two together, I thought it was going to be hard to replace the Charlie/Chilli combo on both socials and the track but I was wrong,” someone else posted.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where did the Ferrari social media takeover occur?
The social media takeover by Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc took place over the Singapore Grand Prix race weekend, during which the drivers were given 20 minutes to post whatever they wanted across Ferrari’s channels.
What content did Hamilton and Leclerc publish during the takeover?
The drivers took an extreme close-up selfie of Hamilton for the account profile photo, broadcast live video sessions, disrupted ongoing team meetings, showed Hamilton touring the hospitality unit, and featured Leclerc riding Hamilton’s scooter.
How did Ferrari respond to the drivers’ stunt?
Ferrari leaned into the humor of the situation by issuing a tongue-in-cheek statement explaining that two internal individuals had gained unauthorized control of the channels and made “highly questionable editorial decisions” before access was restored.
