Lewis Hamilton's 'car of his dreams' 1991 Ferrari F40 just got a Maranello-level restoration and he showcased every single step of it

Lewis Hamilton’s finally brought one of his biggest childhood Ferrari F40 dreams to life, and the result is every bit as special as you’d expect from a seven-time Formula 1 world champion.

The British driver has shared a new video documenting the restoration of his iconic Ferrari F40, revealing how the legendary supercar was brought back to life after decades in storage.

It was a project that required plenty of patience, a little bit of detective work, and some help from the people who know Ferraris better than anyone.

But there was one unexpected discovery that made this particular car even more special to Hamilton.

Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari F40 spent 35 years gathering dust in a garage

Hamilton didn’t just want any Ferrari F40 for his collection.

The racing superstar had been searching for one with exceptionally low mileage and an interesting story, and he eventually found one that had barely been driven since leaving Maranello in 1991.

Its original owner had driven the car just 69 kilometers (43 miles) before parking it in a garage, where it remained for approximately 35 years without the engine being started again.

When Hamilton eventually discovered the car, it was covered in dust, with debris inside the cabin and even a few dead insects that had accumulated during its extraordinarily long stay in storage.

For most people, finding a supercar in that condition might have been enough to send them running in the opposite direction.

For Lewis Hamilton, however, it was precisely the kind of car he’d been hoping to find.

The F40 had been on his mind since childhood, and he wanted an example that retained its original history rather than one that had already been extensively restored or modified.

There was even a moment when he considered leaving the car exactly as he found it, with the dust acting as a reminder of its remarkable history.

Ultimately, though, the temptation to get behind the wheel proved too strong.

Ferrari’s experts discovered an incredible detail during the restoration

Hamilton entrusted the F40 to Ferrari’s specialists in Maranello, Italy, where the company’s restoration and heritage experts worked to bring the supercar back to its former glory.

The new video offers a behind-the-scenes look at the process, following the car’s journey from its dusty condition to its spectacular finished appearance.

And while restoring a car that has spent decades sitting untouched is no small undertaking, the team made an exciting discovery when they examined the engine.

It was stamped with the number 44.

That’s the same number Hamilton has used throughout his Formula 1 career, making the coincidence particularly meaningful for the Ferrari driver.

Considering how much the F40 means to him, it was the sort of detail that almost sounds too good to be true.

The restoration itself also delivered an emotional moment when Hamilton finally saw the finished car.

He walked around the gleaming red supercar, admiring its familiar shape and looking genuinely delighted by how it had turned out.

Then came the moment enthusiasts had been waiting for: the engine was started for the first time in decades.

The F40’s 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V8 roared back into life, giving Hamilton the chance to experience the car he’d dreamed about owning since he was a child.

The Ferrari F40 was originally developed under the watch of company founder Enzo Ferrari and became one of the most celebrated supercars of its era.

With its unmistakable styling and racing-inspired character, it’s easy to understand why it has remained so desirable among collectors.

Hamilton took his restored Ferrari F40 to Monza for a dream come true moment

Getting the F40 back into working order was only part of the story.

Hamilton also wanted to drive it, despite the temptation to preserve its exceptionally low mileage.

That decision led to one of the most memorable moments of his Ferrari career so far, when he arrived at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza in the restored supercar in September 2026.

The setting couldn’t have been more fitting.

Monza is one of Formula 1’s most historic circuits, while the F40 represents a particularly important chapter in Ferrari’s road-car history.

Hamilton even posed with the car beside the circuit’s famous banked section, creating images that brought together his childhood dream and his current role as a Ferrari driver.

The British star has previously described the F40 as his dream car, explaining that he had always wanted to own one.

Now, after decades of waiting and a painstaking restoration in Maranello, he finally has one that he can drive himself.

And with that engine number 44, this particular Ferrari seems to have been waiting for him all along.