First days of Lewis Hamilton at Maranello as told by Ferrari

The most successful driver in history together with the most successful team, Lewis Hamilton and Scuderia Ferrari, a combination that promises to be explosive for the upcoming season right around the corner. An image that, until a year ago, seemed unthinkable is now a reality. The seven-time Formula 1 world champion crossed the gates of Maranello for the first time on January 20, officially beginning his adventure in red. From the early hours of the morning, a group of fans gathered outside the Ferrari Racing Division, eager to welcome the new flagbearer of the team. In a video released on their social channels, the Italian side tells the story of the first days of the English driver in Ferrari attire, showing the first interactions with a completely new environment.

The first day at Maranello
The first day in red officially began at around 10:05 AM, captured by the cameras of some fans who had been there from the very early hours of the morning. Lewis Hamilton was greeted at the the Ferrari Racing Division by Team Principal Frederic Vasseur, chief executive officer Benedetto Vigna, and President John Elkann. As seen in the video released by Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton initially toured the various departments and offices, with handshakes exchanged with the staff. Also welcoming him were Sporting Director Diego Ioverno and Head of Strategy Ravin Jain. “I’ve been waiting for this day forever. I’m very happy to meet all the staff. I can’t wait to get started,” said the seven-time world champion. Later in the day, Lewis visited the department of historic road cars from the Prancing Horse. The Brit chose the F40, his favorite supercar, to pose for a photo that was later published on the team’s social media. A photo that, by the way, broke the record for the most likes on a Formula 1-related image. Finally, the British champion also paid tribute to the house and offices of ‘Il Drake’ Enzo Ferrari, completing a true “full immersion” into the history of the Maranello team. To end the day, the seven-time world champion also took selfies and signed autographs for the fans present at the exit of the headquarters.

The day of the first technical briefings
On Tuesday, the first real day of technical activity took place. Lewis Hamilton carried out several simulator sessions to familiarize himself with the new mechanical systems, particularly the Power Unit, gearbox, and braking system, which are significantly different from those of Mercedes. The first technical briefings with the engineers were also held, and in preparation for Wednesday, the “seat fit” with the SF-23 was completed under the supervision of his race engineer, Riccardo Adami. Notably, the Briton will take teammate Charles Leclerc’s steering wheel as a reference point, making small adjustments based on his preferences. Additionally, significant modifications to the pedal assembly were requested from the engineers, as reported by the Italian website autoracer.it. During the day, there were also marketing activities and a photoshoot featuring Lewis Hamilton in the red racing suit and his new helmet in Modena yellow, which would make its on-track debut the following day.

Like the rest of the week, Wednesday started under a thick fog. January 22, 2025, is a historic day: Lewis Hamilton’s first on-track test in a Ferrari. Everything was set on the SF-23, finalized in the last hours of Tuesday, for the TPC (Test Previous Cars) session at Ferrari’s home circuit in Fiorano. In the garage, alongside Charles Leclerc and Frederic Vasseur, Lewis Hamilton’s parents were also present, while from a technical perspective, Matteo Togninalli, head of track performance, and newly appointed deputy team principal Jerome D’Ambrosio were overseeing operations. At 9:16 AM, Lewis Hamilton exited the garage for the first time for the customary installation lap, immediately returning to provide initial technical feedback to the engineers. Shortly after, he went back out on track for a more extended run of about thirty laps on slick tires. Hamilton then shared his emotions: “It was a dream to come here and experience this for the first time. It’s amazing to have my parents here with me. I feel like it’s my first day at work or school.” After completing the program around lunchtime, the seven-time world champion was met by an enthusiastic crowd. A level of excitement not seen in nearly thirty years, since the days of Michael Schumacher. “Lewis, Lewis, Lewis!” chanted the Ferrari fans, to whom he could not help but wave in response.