The time for Lewis Hamilton to take the wheel of a Ferrari is drawing near, with his debut scheduled for early next week. A new beginning for the British world champion and a legend of the sport. After spending over 10 seasons with Mercedes, Hamilton’s debut with Ferrari already looks like an almost impossible task.
Scuderia Ferrari is finalizing preparations to put Lewis Hamilton behind the wheel of one of the team’s recent cars on the Fiorano track. Several cars are available for the test, likely one of the latest models. The F1-75 and SF-23 are the top candidates, given the TPC (Test Previous Car) regulation, which mandates the use of a car at least two years old.
These vehicles should help Hamilton understand the mechanics of the Ferrari car, though they will differ substantially from the 677. The SF-25, if it is named that, will represent a radical change in suspension design, returning to a pull-rod setup at the front—a solution last used in 2015 with the SF-15T.
Significant aerodynamic changes are also expected, with more details to come from recent developments. The new car will need to compete in every race and on all track conditions, addressing the qualifying issues that emerged with the SF-24.
The “Mission Impossible” at Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari marks the return of a superstar to the cockpit of a Ferrari car. Many legends before him have had the opportunity to drive for Ferrari, setting records that are nearly impossible to break. Drivers such as Fernando Alonso, Kimi Raikkonen, Mario Andretti, and Nigel Mansell all won on their debut in a Ferrari.
The British driver faces a significant challenge: he will be expected to secure victory at the season-opening Grand Prix in Australia. Should he succeed, Hamilton would join an elite group of drivers who achieved a win with Ferrari in the fewest races.
Fernando Alonso (1st race)
Kimi Raikkonen (1st race)
Mario Andretti (1st race)
Nigel Mansell (1st race)
Alain Prost (2nd race)
Juan Manuel Fangio (2nd race)
Sebastian Vettel (2nd race)
Mike Hawthorn (3rd race)
Niki Lauda (3rd race)
John Surtees (5th race)
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