Lewis Hamilton's viral Abu Dhabi hug labelled "healing moment" as brutal Ferrari season nears end

The Ferrari star jumps off stage to hug child in a number 44 cap as social media reacts with tears and heart emojis

Lewis Hamilton's performance this season may paint a bleak picture of his first year with Ferrari, but a viral clip from ahead of the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix reminds us why he remains one of Formula 1's most loved drivers.

During a Ferrari fan appearance in the paddock, Hamilton was handed the microphone on stage before he vaulted down into the crowd. The seven-time world champion jogged over to a young fan dressed head-to-toe in Ferrari gear. The fan rose from their pushchair for Hamilton, who dropped to his knees to give him a hug.

The child wrapped their arms around the driver as photos were taken of the two. Wearing a Ferrari cap with the number 44 emblazoned onto it, the child then returned to playing with their own little Ferrari F1 car.

The social media reaction to the moment was instant, with it soon being picked up by fan accounts across multiple sites. Replies were, as you'd imagine, full of heart and crying emojis, with one fan writing that the moment was "so heart-warming", while another said they had "tears in the eyes, so gorgeous". Another believed that the moment "means as much to Lewis as it does to the young fan," calling it a "healing moment" for a driver who has been enduring a brutal season.

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

Hamilton has a reputation for going the extra mile with his supporters. Over the years he's been known to frequently stop to greet fans and sign merchandise.

Either side of this lovely moment has been difficult for the driver, who crashed his Scuderia machinery in FP3. Qualifying was equally as painful, with Hamilton once again exiting the session in Q1, qualifying 16th on the grid for Sunday's grand prix. Admitting he was carrying "a lot of anger" following another disappointing session, he added that his Ferrari team "deserve better".

Despite this frustration, the moment with a fan had fans wishing for "a happier Lewis Hamilton in 2026".