Hamilton steps out in red at unprecedented 10 team F1 launch

LONDON - Seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton appeared in Ferrari red for the first time outside of Italy as Formula One put on an unprecedented and spectacular 10-team season launch in front of 15,000 fans on Tuesday.

The 40-year-old Briton, who has moved from Mercedes, got the loudest cheer of the night when he took the stage for an event that coincided with the birthday of his Italian teams late founder Enzo.

I feel so full of life, so much energy, because everythings new and Im just focused on what is up ahead, Hamilton told his home crowd at Londons 02 Arena.

Im so proud to be part of the team. Something new and exciting for me.

The two-hour show, with British comedian and host Jack Whitehall gently ribbing the protagonists, featured lights, lasers and musical acts including former boy band Take That and U.S. country singer Kane Brown.

Liberty Media-owned Formula One said early in the evening that their YouTube channel had smashed through the one-million viewers mark, breaking a previous live-event record of 289,000.

This event is all about the fans and without the fans there is no sport, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner told reporters before the show started.

Im sure its probably the last place that the drivers want to be, paraded out in front of a stadium full of fans, but Formula One is an entertainment, its a show, and its the 75th anniversary (of the championship).

So a huge amount of effort has gone into tonight by Formula One and all 10 teams.

There was a time when the teams struggled to agree even on what day it was, but Formula Ones surging popularity and revenues have concentrated minds.

The success of Netflix docu-series Drive to Survive, and the arrival in cinemas later