Lewis Hamilton has launched into a brand new chapter in his illustrious System 1 profession by collaborating in his first testing session as a Ferrari driver on the group’s Fiorano circuit.
Whereas the observe is often reserved for personal classes, Wednesday morning was something however secluded, with over 1,000 enthusiastic followers gathering to witness the previous Mercedes driver extremely anticipated Ferrari debut. This marks a major milestone within the seven-time world champion’s transition to the long-lasting Scuderia as he prepares for the upcoming 2025 F1 season, which kicks off on the Australian Grand Prix.
Ferrari is keen to construct on final season’s efficiency and has its sights firmly set on surpassing McLaren to say the Constructors’ Championship title. Whether or not this lofty aim is inside attain will stay unsure till pre-season testing begins in Bahrain on the finish of February. Till then, groups will depend on sporadic information from quick filming-day runs, unable to really gauge their competitors till they hit the observe beneath comparable circumstances.
For the Brit, the journey comes with a watchful eye on his former group, Mercedes. After a unprecedented 12-year partnership that yielded six of his seven world titles, Lewis Hamilton opted to half methods with the Silver Arrows and group principal Toto Wolff. The choice opened the door for rising star Andrea Kimi Antonelli to fill his seat.
From a strategic standpoint, the British driver’s transfer to Ferrari seems sound, primarily based on final yr’s efficiency trajectory. But, with the unpredictable nature of F1, Mercedes may bounce again stronger in the event that they’ve managed to deal with their automobile’s inconsistency, which solely allowed them to compete successfully in cooler climates.
Lewis Hamilton adjusts to Ferrari’s method of racing
In keeping with *Gazzetta dello Sport*, Lewis Hamilton’s preliminary preparations at Maranello have centered on adapting to Ferrari’s programs, together with his first classes of their simulator. Over the primary two days, Hamilton underwent a seat becoming and acclimatized himself to Ferrari’s digital instruments, which at the moment concentrate on the setup utilized in Carlos Sainz’s Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix victory.
In an effort to erase habits ingrained from his years at Mercedes, Ferrari has tasked Lewis Hamilton with testing a variety of vastly totally different setups. These simulations are designed to familiarize him with how Ferrari’s energy unit operates, how its suspension responds, and the way load distribution varies—all essential components in reshaping his driving strategy to match Ferrari’s distinctive traits.
Curiously, Italian each day newspaper *Gazzetta dello Sport* notes that Ferrari’s simulator could supply an edge over Mercedes’ by way of technical sophistication. This might present Lewis Hamilton with a smoother transition as he begins engaged on the mathematical mannequin for Ferrari’s 2025 challenger. His first bodily check of the automobile is ready for February 19, throughout a shakedown occasion following its official launch.
Followers embrace Lewis Hamilton at Fiorano
Ferrari’s legendary fan base made a powerful impression on Lewis Hamilton throughout his preliminary check. Braving the early morning fog, crowds lined the circuit to catch a glimpse of their latest star in motion. Regardless of restricted visibility at instances, Hamilton took to the observe at 9:17 am native time, creating an electrical ambiance at Fiorano.
Lap instances throughout these circumstances had been of little significance. Ferrari’s main focus lay on Lewis Hamilton’s communication together with his new race engineer, Riccardo Adami, and his suggestions on how the SF-23 in comparison with the Mercedes vehicles he had pushed for over a decade.
The simulator will likely be a important device for Lewis Hamilton as he adapts to Ferrari’s setup, serving to him discard driving methods particular to Mercedes and push his new automobile to its limits. Expectations are excessive for Hamilton to combine seamlessly into Ferrari’s ecosystem, and the way properly he adjusts will likely be pivotal to each his and Ferrari’s success in 2025.
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