Lewis Hamilton’s initial Ferrari test was a brief but intense experience. The team configured the car specifically for a Sprint race, which is approximately one-third of a full Grand Prix distance.
Lewis Hamilton completed a 90km run at the Fiorano circuit, which is located near Ferrari’s headquarters in Maranello. A lap around the track takes just under a minute, making the session relatively short in duration. Teammate Charles Leclerc also drove the same car, the SF-23, later on the same day. Despite the difference in conditions, Charles Leclerc was six seconds slower than Hamilton during his 14-lap stint, though it’s important to note that the conditions weren’t entirely representative.
The test attracted over a thousand spectators, who gathered in hopes of seeing Hamilton on track. However, they were met with a misty, damp atmosphere that briefly threatened to postpone the session. Despite the challenging weather conditions, Ferrari managed to carry out their planned run, though with some disruptions. This test represented only a small portion of Hamilton’s overall winter testing mileage.
Hamilton’s schedule includes several upcoming key events, such as a Pirelli tyre test in Barcelona and a 2025 car shakedown at Fiorano. Following those sessions, both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will split three days of testing in Bahrain as part of the official pre-season preparations.
One of the standout moments during Lewis Hamilton’s first Ferrari outing was his exceptional car control, particularly given the “practically zero grip” conditions at Fiorano. A report from Motorsport Italy highlighted Hamilton’s positive relationship with his new race engineer, Riccardo Adami, who has previously worked with Carlos Sainz and Sebastian Vettel. Hamilton, who has been accustomed to the guidance of Peter Bonnington at Mercedes for the past 12 seasons, chose to remain at Brackley and continue working with Kimi Antonelli for now.
During the test, the British driver did experience a few challenges. A photograph showed him locking up his brakes, although this was not a cause for concern; it was simply a result of him pushing the car harder to better understand its limits. At times, he came close to dipping a wheel into the gravel at the track’s edges, but he consistently kept the car under control, despite the difficult conditions.
Hamilton’s reputation for excelling in slippery conditions is well known. Even though last season was statistically one of his most challenging, he delivered an outstanding performance at the British Grand Prix, where changing weather conditions made for a tough but rewarding race, culminating in a victory.
His first test for Ferrari attracted significant attention from the Italian media, with Hamilton managing to draw a larger-than-expected crowd despite the months of anticipation. However, if he continues on the trajectory from last season, there could be widespread disappointment. A smooth winter testing period will be essential for him to position himself for success, but one F1 regulation change could hinder his progress. The new TPC rule limits experienced drivers to 1,000km across four days, and Hamilton has already used nearly 10% of this allocation. Interestingly, Ferrari were one of the teams that advocated for this rule change, which may end up working against them.
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