Who is Ella? Meet Lewis Hamilton’s new Ferrari press officer. Ella is a member of the Project 44 foundation.

It is now official: Lewis Hamilton is, in every respect, a Ferrari driver. With the Australian GP now concluded, his adventure with the Maranello team—set to last at least two years—has officially begun. Having dreamed of this moment since childhood, the seven-time world champion has finally made it a reality. After setting foot in the team’s historic headquarters for the first time last January, Sir Lewis made his official debut in the red suit last Sunday. Just like for his first test at Fiorano, the Briton wanted to have all the people closest to him by his side for this historic step in his career—his family and more.

Between returns and new additions

Accompanying him in his new adventure in Italy is Angela Cullen, who, like Lewis Hamilton himself, could not resist Ferrari’s allure. She has decided to return alongside her driver after parting ways with him a couple of seasons ago to pursue new projects overseas. But alongside the return of his longtime collaborator, Hamilton’s first steps at Ferrari have also been taken with some new faces recently added to his inner circle. Among them, one new member has gone largely unnoticed despite having a crucial role in helping Hamilton adapt to the Scuderia. That person is Ella, first revealed by The Telegraph after appearing during pre-season testing.

Who is Ella?

Ella is a member of the Project 44 foundation, founded by Hamilton himself, and will work as the press officer for the Stevenage-born driver. She is an Italian living in London and, according to well-informed sources, has no prior experience in Formula 1. However, she will gain that experience over the course of the season, working alongside Lewis Hamilton in the paddock at every Grand Prix, managing fans and media during the intense race weekends. She is a new addition to Hamilton’s close and trusted circle of collaborators, who, as expected, have followed him to Ferrari. Along with her are his father Anthony, stepmother Linda, and manager Marc Hynes. A stable and reliable environment appears to be a key factor for the most successful driver in history as he transitions from Mercedes to Ferrari in pursuit of the ultimate record—eight F1 world titles.