At the Fiorano circuit, Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari write a new chapter in motorsport history. On Wednesday, shortly after 9 in the morning, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion hit the track of the Prancing Horse for the first time, officially sealing his union with Ferrari. The roar of the hybrid turbocharged 066/12 V6 engine pierced through the fog enveloping Maranello as the Englishman completed his initial laps, warming the hearts of over 1,000 fans gathered on the iconic bridge of the Italian town. Let’s delve into the triumphant day of the new Ferrari driver aboard an Italian single-seater.
The first historic lap was what we could call a classic in-out, with wet tires used as a precaution on the damp and slippery track. After getting acquainted with the circuit and making initial adjustments to the car, Lewis Hamilton returned to the track with Medium tires. In this stint, the British driver completed about 12 laps, progressively increasing his pace as the tire temperature rose. This allowed him to gain more reference points for the track layout. The Brit alternated between push laps and cool-down laps.
Only in the final phase of this first run did the seven-time Formula 1 world champion complete three consecutive flying laps, with the best recorded time at 59.4 seconds. Before returning to the garage, he performed a practice start, which was not perfect as it was the first attempt, followed by a meeting with the engineers to provide feedback on the handling of the SF-23 car. The third stint of the 7-time F1 world champion began after a 53-minute pit stop. This comprehensive debriefing included, among other things, modifications to the car’s base setup based on Lewis Hamilton’s precise instructions.
The Italian car, bearing the number 44, was equipped with Hard tires, which were not ideal for the damp track. After two laps, rain arrived to complicate matters. As a result, Lewis Hamilton’s lap times were rather slow, with multiple tests focused on the pit lane limiter and hybrid system mappings. The Englishman faced particular traction issues, struggling with significant oversteer and wheel spin during acceleration phases. The former Mercedes champion completed only three laps, with unremarkable times exceeding 1 minute and 10 seconds.
The fourth stint began at 10:40, still using the white-banded Pirelli tires. Lewis Hamilton completed another 10 laps, bringing the total to about 26. During this run, the pace increased significantly, with the Briton clearly pushing the limits of the Ferrari F1 car. This led to several lock-ups and a few off-track moments, particularly at Turn 1 and Turn 9, the tightest hairpin on the circuit. Additionally, Lewis Hamilton had the chance to use the drag reduction system on the main straight, testing the system that activates the movable wing to reduce drag.
As the laps went on, the former Mercedes driver adapted his driving style. Taking advantage of a progressively drying track, Lewis Hamilton managed to limit and eventually eliminate the bothersome oversteer on exit from the hairpin. This adjustment allowed him to push harder, with lap times dropping significantly, shaving off more than five seconds per lap. Before returning to the Fiorano garage, further practice starts were carried out to test the clutch-release system. Lewis Hamilton’s fifth and final run was much shorter.
It consisted of just three laps to complete a program of approximately 100 kilometers. The tires used were again Hard, and the British driver enjoyed the warmth of the crowd gathered around the track. Thus ended the Briton’s first day as a Ferrari driver. After the tests, he made his way to the fans pressed against the fences to greet them. The emotion was undoubtedly significant for Lewis Hamilton as well, in front of a level of support unseen anywhere else in the world. On the other hand, it can be said that for him, too, a childhood dream came true: driving a red car, a Ferrari.
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