Hamilton drives Ferrari F1 car for the first time at Fiorano

The seven-time world champion officially began his tenure with Ferrari on Monday at their iconic Maranello base, following his departure from Mercedes after 12 years. Hamilton’s move to the Scuderia, confirmed last February, stunned the F1 paddock as he left behind a record-breaking partnership with Mercedes to join Ferrari in what is widely regarded as the most high-profile transfer in the sport’s history.

On Wednesday morning, Hamilton took to the track in Ferrari’s 2023 car, starting his run at 9:16 am local time. The session marked his first opportunity to familiarise himself with the team’s operations and the nuances of Ferrari machinery.

Ferrari had already released a photo of Hamilton in the team’s signature red race suit on Tuesday evening. Hours before his debut run, they shared an image of his new helmet on social media, building anticipation for the British driver’s maiden laps in the iconic car.

Hamilton, who turned 40 earlier this month, holds an unmatched record of 105 Grand Prix victories and shares the joint-best tally of seven world championships with Michael Schumacher. His move unites the most successful driver in F1 history with Ferrari, the sport’s most decorated team, boasting 15 drivers’ and 16 constructors’ championships.

However, Ferrari has endured a title drought since their last constructors’ triumph in 2008. Despite this, a resurgent end to the 2024 season saw them finish just 14 points behind McLaren in the constructors’ standings.

With pre-season testing for the 2025 season scheduled for Bahrain from February 26-28, teams are prohibited from running their latest cars until then. However, F1 regulations permit teams to use cars from previous seasons under the Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) rule.

This provision allowed Ferrari to run their 2023 car, giving Hamilton an early opportunity to acclimatise to their working practices and experience a Ferrari power unit for the first time. Until now, Hamilton’s entire F1 career—spanning 18 seasons—has been powered by Mercedes engines, first with McLaren and later with the Mercedes works team.

Under the 2025 TPC rules, current race drivers are limited to a maximum of 1,000km of running across four days throughout the calendar year. Ferrari opted to utilise one of their permitted TPC days at Fiorano for Hamilton’s debut.

Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur hinted before Christmas that Hamilton could also feature in Pirelli’s tyre tests, scheduled for January and February. These additional sessions could provide further track time for the British driver as he integrates into his new team ahead of the upcoming season.

Hamilton’s move to Ferrari has generated immense excitement, with fans and pundits eagerly anticipating how this blockbuster partnership will unfold in 2025 and beyond.