Lewis Hamilton has embarked on a new chapter in his illustrious Formula 1 career by participating in his first testing session as a Ferrari driver at the team’s Fiorano circuit.
While the track is typically reserved for private sessions, Wednesday morning was anything but secluded, with over 1,000 enthusiastic fans gathering to witness the former Mercedes driver highly anticipated Ferrari debut. This marks a significant milestone in the seven-time world champion’s transition to the iconic Scuderia as he prepares for the upcoming 2025 F1 season, which kicks off at the Australian Grand Prix.
Ferrari is eager to build on last season’s performance and has its sights firmly set on surpassing McLaren to claim the Constructors’ Championship title. Whether this lofty goal is within reach will remain uncertain until pre-season testing begins in Bahrain at the end of February. Until then, teams will rely on sporadic data from short filming-day runs, unable to truly gauge their competition until they hit the track under comparable conditions.
For the Brit, the journey comes with a watchful eye on his former team, Mercedes. After an extraordinary 12-year partnership that yielded six of his seven world titles, Lewis Hamilton opted to part ways with the Silver Arrows and team principal Toto Wolff. The decision opened the door for rising star Andrea Kimi Antonelli to fill his seat.
From a strategic standpoint, the British driver’s move to Ferrari appears sound, based on last year’s performance trajectory. Yet, with the unpredictable nature of F1, Mercedes might bounce back stronger if they’ve managed to address their car’s inconsistency, which only allowed them to compete effectively in cooler climates.
Lewis Hamilton adjusts to Ferrari’s way of racing
According to *Gazzetta dello Sport*, Lewis Hamilton’s initial preparations at Maranello have centered on adapting to Ferrari’s systems, including his first sessions in their simulator. Over the first two days, Hamilton underwent a seat fitting and acclimatized himself to Ferrari’s virtual tools, which currently focus on the setup used in Carlos Sainz’s Mexico City Grand Prix victory.
In an effort to erase habits ingrained from his years at Mercedes, Ferrari has tasked Lewis Hamilton with testing a range of vastly different setups. These simulations are designed to familiarize him with how Ferrari’s power unit operates, how its suspension responds, and how load distribution varies—all crucial elements in reshaping his driving approach to match Ferrari’s unique characteristics.
Interestingly, Italian daily newspaper *Gazzetta dello Sport* notes that Ferrari’s simulator may offer an edge over Mercedes’ in terms of technical sophistication. This could provide Lewis Hamilton with a smoother transition as he begins working on the mathematical model for Ferrari’s 2025 challenger. His first physical test of the car is set for February 19, during a shakedown event following its official launch.
Fans embrace Lewis Hamilton at Fiorano
Ferrari’s legendary fan base made a strong impression on Lewis Hamilton during his initial test. Braving the early morning fog, crowds lined the circuit to catch a glimpse of their newest star in action. Despite limited visibility at times, Hamilton took to the track at 9:17 am local time, creating an electric atmosphere at Fiorano.
Lap times during these conditions were of little importance. Ferrari’s primary focus lay on Lewis Hamilton’s communication with his new race engineer, Riccardo Adami, and his feedback on how the SF-23 compared to the Mercedes cars he had driven for over a decade.
The simulator will be a critical tool for Lewis Hamilton as he adapts to Ferrari’s setup, helping him discard driving techniques specific to Mercedes and push his new car to its limits. Expectations are high for Hamilton to integrate seamlessly into Ferrari’s ecosystem, and how well he adjusts will be pivotal to both his and Ferrari’s success in 2025.
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