Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have swapped their usual Formula 1 machinery for a very different Ferrari experience at Fiorano, taking the new Ferrari 12-Cylinder Manual onto the Italian marque’s private test circuit.
Against a backdrop of occasional questions surrounding the relationship between Ferrari’s two Formula 1 drivers, the pair appeared to thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to sample the special model together. The session allowed both drivers to experience Ferrari’s return to a more traditional style of gear changing while retaining the benefits of modern electronic technology.
Hamilton and Leclerc share Fiorano laps in the Ferrari 12-Cylinder Manual
Charles Leclerc was the first of the two Ferrari drivers to take control, with Lewis Hamilton occupying the passenger seat as they began their run around Fiorano. It was a familiar setting for both men, although the driving experience was considerably different from the Formula 1 cars they normally test at the circuit.
The pair discussed the sensation of returning to a car with a manual transmission during the session, which Ferrari also captured on video. Leclerc was pleasantly surprised by the car and also noted how calm Hamilton appeared while sitting alongside him as a passenger.
That relaxed approach changed once the seven-time Formula 1 world champion moved into the driving seat. Hamilton pushed the Ferrari much harder during his turn behind the wheel and was similarly impressed by the sensations offered by the car.
Leclerc described his experience as fantastic, while Hamilton shared his team-mate’s positive first impression and considered the car both beautiful and particularly enjoyable to drive.
How Ferrari’s Manual by-wire system works
The defining feature of the limited-edition model is Ferrari’s new Manual by-wire system, which was developed internally in Maranello. Its purpose is to provide the tactile involvement associated with a traditional manual gearbox while also taking advantage of electronic technology.
Ferrari produced 1,499 examples of the car. The production figure carries historical significance for the manufacturer, with the number chosen to echo the displacement of Ferrari’s first twelve-cylinder engine, which was created in 1947.
The experience therefore combines a deliberate reference to Ferrari’s past with technology developed for a modern high-performance road car, giving Hamilton and Leclerc something very different to the highly automated systems used in contemporary Formula 1 machinery.
Ferrari 12-Cylinder Manual technical specifications
Beyond its unusual transmission concept, the Ferrari is powered by a naturally aspirated V12 engine built in Maranello. The unit produces 830 hp and can reach a maximum engine speed of 9,500 rpm.
Several components have been developed to support those performance figures. The engine uses titanium connecting rods together with lightweight aluminium-alloy pistons, while the system controlling the opening and closing of the valves also benefits from Ferrari’s Formula 1 experience.
Performance is equally substantial. The Ferrari can exceed 340 km/h and accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 2.9 seconds. Its V12 has a total displacement of 6,496 cc and operates with a compression ratio of 13.5.
The car weighs 1,565 kilograms without fuel, with 48.4% of that weight distributed over the front and 51.6% over the rear. Combined with the 830 hp output, those figures produce a weight-to-power ratio of 1.88 kg/hp.
For Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, the Fiorano outing offered an opportunity to experience another side of Ferrari performance away from their Formula 1 responsibilities, combining a naturally aspirated V12, a distinctive manual-style transmission system and the familiar surroundings of the Maranello team’s test circuit.
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