Lewis Hamilton seems to be thriving in his new setting at Ferrari as he gears up for his much-anticipated debut season with the enduring Italian workforce. The seven-time world champion has been absolutely immersed in preparations, working behind the scenes to make sure he is able to problem for what could possibly be a historic eighth Formulation 1 title.
His transition to Ferrari has already included a number of check periods, with runs at Fiorano and the Circuit de Catalunya, the latter a part of a program for evaluating the 2026 tyre specs. Every of those outings has been met with overwhelming enthusiasm from the Tifosi, with 1000’s of followers gathering to witness Lewis Hamilton’s first laps in Ferrari equipment. His preliminary check in an older Scuderia mannequin drew large crowds, and the thrill solely intensified when he lastly acquired behind the wheel of the SF-25 single-seater at Fiorano this week.
Ferrari’s 2025 contender includes a revamped entrance suspension designed to enhance the automotive’s efficiency and convey it nearer to the extent of Crimson Bull and McLaren. Whereas there may be immense anticipation surrounding what the season might carry, Hamilton has highlighted one explicit facet of his new journey that he finds extra pleasant on the Maranello workforce than he did at his former workforce.
Lewis Hamilton Finds Newfound Enjoyment in Pre-Season Testing with Ferrari
Regardless of his legendary standing within the sport, Lewis Hamilton has by no means been identified for his enthusiasm in relation to simulator periods or intensive testing days. Throughout his time at Mercedes, he typically restricted his participation in pre-season testing and even admitted up to now to having “pulled a sickie” to keep away from significantly grueling periods. The lengthy hours and repetitive nature of check applications by no means appealed to him.
Nevertheless, chatting with the BBC, the British driver revealed that he now finds pre-season testing extra pleasant at Ferrari than he did at Mercedes. The distinction, he defined, comes from the truth that he has a lot extra to be taught in his new setting. The necessity to familiarize himself with Ferrari’s techniques, processes, and automotive traits has added a contemporary problem, making the sometimes monotonous testing days much more participating and rewarding.
Lewis Hamilton expressed his pleasure about having extra driving time than standard throughout pre-season, noting that whereas he has by no means been significantly keen on testing, he has discovered it pleasant to expertise the utterly new really feel of the automotive and engine whereas getting snug within the cockpit.
The British driver additionally identified that Ferrari’s steering wheel has extra buttons and lights in comparison with what he was used to up to now. He emphasised the significance of fine-tuning all the things earlier than the primary race, aiming to have all settings optimized upfront reasonably than spending the primary six months making changes. He highlighted the numerous effort that has gone into this preparation.
Ferrari’s First Impressions of Working with Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton has already begun to make an affect at Ferrari, each on and off the observe, as he settles into his new setting. His arrival on the workforce has been met with pleasure, and he supplied a succinct however significant response when requested concerning the expertise of driving for Ferrari on the latest F1 75 occasion in London, the place he obtained an enthusiastic reception from followers.
Since becoming a member of the Maranello-based outfit, Hamilton has been placing in important effort behind the scenes to combine himself into the workforce. His adaptation course of has included not solely familiarizing himself with Ferrari’s operations but in addition selecting up Italian phrases to higher join with the workforce and its tradition.
Adjusting to life at Ferrari has not been with out its challenges, as Hamilton has overtly acknowledged. Shifting to an Italian workforce after spending his complete Formulation 1 profession with British-based outfits has required a serious cultural shift, and he admitted that the transition has been demanding within the early weeks.
Regardless of the challenges, Hamilton has already earned the admiration of these throughout the workforce. Former Ferrari driver Jean Alesi has praised the seven-time world champion, revealing that he has “impressed everyone” he has labored with thus far. Based on Jean Alesi, the British driver’s dedication, professionalism, and the way in which he has performed himself behind the scenes have made a robust impression on the workforce.