The engines roared, the tires screamed, and the anticipation was electric as the 2025 Formula 1 season launched yesterday. Even before the first checkered flag flew, the "Hamilton Effect" has already been in full swing.

Lewis Hamilton’s Instagram post marking his formal intro to team Ferrari sent shockwaves through the motorsport world back at the end of January. Coupled with the launch of the seventh Drive to Survive season last week, Hamilton has ignited a frenzy of excitement among fans, driving a surge in popularity for the iconic Italian team.

Brand new research from Auto Trader has revealed that during the week following that first Instagram post, searches for Ferraris on the platform have jumped 10% with people inspired by the legend and looking to get a slice of the high life.

Specifically, searches for the Ferrari 355 F1, which shares the classic supercar wedge design inspired by the iconic F40 model featured in Hamilton’s Instagram post, increased by 209% in the week following Hamilton’s Instagram post, compared to the same time period the year before*.

For those dreaming of sitting behind the wheel of their own Ferrari, Auto Trader has compiled a list of the most lusted-over Ferrari models based on the models which saw the biggest percentage increase in searches across the platform following that already iconic Instagram post - demonstrating the immense impact of the “Hamilton effect”.

Top Five Ferrari Models on Auto Trader (percentage increase in searches compared to previous year):

Ferrari Purosangue – average advertised price on Auto Trader was £422,919, and it saw a 258% increase in searches YoY between January 20^th-26^th

A high-performance luxury SUV introduced in 2022 and Ferrari’s first four-door model.

355 F1 – average advertised price on Auto Trader was £89,989, and it saw a 209% increase in searches YoY

The model car inspired by the iconic F40 Lewis Hamilton posed with during his first post as an official Ferrari F1 driver. The iconic model was first introduced in 1997 and was the first to have an F1-style gearbox.

Ferrari Enzo – average advertised price on Auto Trader was £3,872500, and it saw a 181% increase in searches YoY between January 20^th-26^th

Named after the company’s founder, this iconic model was developed in 2002 using F1 technology.

Ferrari 575M – average advertised price on Auto Trader was £122,671, and it saw a 127% increase in searches YoY between January 20^th-26^th

Launched in 2002 and produced until 2006, this is a two-seat, two-door grand tourer.

Ferrari 330 - average advertised price on Auto Trader was £340,456, and it saw a 95% increase in searches YoY between January 20^th-26^th

An iconic classic model produced from 1963-1968

It’s no doubt the ‘Hamilton effect’ has made an impact on the motorsport world, and it definitely won’t stop here. With the start of the F1 season yesterday, we’re expecting the impact of this driver to continue to drive searches for Ferrari on Auto Trader throughout the coming months.

Key spokesperson

Erin Baker

Auto Trader’s Editorial Director

CONNECT

*Internal data collected on percentage increase in searches and increase in ad views for Ferrari models between January 20^th-26^th 2025, the week following Hamilton’s Instagram post confirming his move to Ferrari, compared to searches in 2024.

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The Hamilton effect: F1 announcement drives over 200 percent increase for Ferrari models on Auto Trader

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