Lewis Hamilton is about to drive Ferrari’s 2025 System 1 automotive for the primary time subsequent week, with a shakedown scheduled for 19 February on the Fiorano take a look at observe. The event will mark a significant milestone in his journey with the Scuderia as he will get behind the wheel of the pink machine.
Nonetheless, the temper at Ferrari is considerably blended concerning the upcoming launch of the F175 in London. The group is annoyed by the necessity to fly to the occasion, particularly as their UK-based rivals will solely have to make a brief journey. Regardless of the logistics, all eyes can be on Hamilton, who is anticipated to be the primary attraction as he makes his first official look as a Ferrari driver. Though 1000’s of followers have been current for his first take a look at final month, that occasion was meant to be personal. Staff principal Fred Vasseur has labored laborious to maintain the media frenzy round Hamilton’s signing in examine.
Following his first outing with Ferrari within the 2023 automotive, Lewis Hamilton traveled to Barcelona, the place a crash on the second day disrupted Ferrari’s testing plan. Whereas the group downplayed the importance of the incident, it did solid a shadow over the proceedings. Nonetheless, he additionally took half in a Pirelli tyre take a look at in a modified SF-24 on the similar circuit, which reportedly went with none main points.
Probably the most essential second in Lewis Hamilton’s pre-season preparation would be the official take a look at in Bahrain, which is simply over two weeks away. Off the observe, Lewis Hamilton has been making efforts to combine along with his new colleagues and encourage the group as he settles into his function on the Italian aspect.
At Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters, Hamilton made a major gesture that has already been well-received by the group. Showing on stage with Fred Vasseur and teammate Charles Leclerc, Hamilton addressed the workers in Italian, thanking them for his or her heat welcome and expressing his pleasure about driving for Ferrari—a dream he has lengthy harbored. Though Lewis Hamilton needed to learn from his cellphone, Ferrari workers appreciated his effort to be taught the language and immerse himself in his new environment. This gesture went a great distance in gaining the help of the group, with the gang giving him the warmest reception. Whereas Leclerc is already fluent in Italian, Lewis Hamilton will little question proceed to work on his language abilities as he settles into life on the Maranello group.
Lewis Hamilton’s efforts are already being in comparison with these of Michael Schumacher, who, regardless of a legendary profession at Ferrari, by no means made the hassle to talk Italian throughout his time with the group. In distinction, Hamilton has made it clear that his want to win stays as robust as ever, and he’s dedicated to pushing for a world championship with Ferrari. Former F1 driver Jaime Alguersuari has urged that Lewis Hamilton’s transfer to Ferrari is about extra than simply profitable—it’s additionally about having fun with his time with the group earlier than retirement. Nonetheless, regardless of this, it’s clear the British driver wouldn’t have made the change if he didn’t imagine he might nonetheless problem for an eighth world title.
Together with his Italian efforts already going additional than Michael Schumacher’s, Lewis Hamilton has set a powerful basis in his quest to endear himself to Ferrari and show that he’s not simply there for enjoyable, however to win and add to his legendary profession.