After weeks of anticipation, Lewis Hamilton finally made his highly anticipated debut behind the wheel of a Ferrari F1 car last Wednesday, driving the SF-23 and sporting a striking yellow helmet to mark the start of his new journey.
As is tradition, Ferrari kicked off the year with a “wake-up” test at their home circuit in Fiorano. This annual session, held in late January, is designed to help drivers reacquaint themselves with the physical demands of F1, including the intense lateral forces, braking, and other nuances that simulators cannot replicate. These tests comply with the Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) regulations, allowing teams to run cars from past seasons under strict limitations.
Unlike previous years, when each Ferrari driver typically had a full day of testing, this year’s session was shortened and shared between the British driver and Charles Leclerc. Whether due to changing weather or the newly tightened 2025 TPC regulations, both drivers completed only a handful of laps. However, the team has a more comprehensive two-day test planned at the Circuit de Catalunya circuit next week, where the drivers will have a proper chance to push the car on a full track.
This year’s “wake-up test” was anything but ordinary. Watch this brief clip capturing Lewis Hamilton’s first few laps on a foggy Fiorano morning—a fitting start to this exciting new chapter.
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