Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari journey: what lies ahead
Hamilton’s first drive with Ferrari
The motorsport world is buzzing with anticipation. After a remarkable 12-year tenure with Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton is set to don Ferrari red starting New Year's Day. His inaugural race for Ferrari will be the season opener at the Australian Grand Prix on March 16. However, what unfolds leading up to this pivotal moment has largely remained a mystery—until now.
Hamilton’s initiation into the Ferrari fold doesn't have a fixed date or location as yet. While the official preseason test will see all teams on track in Bahrain from February 26-28, Hamilton may get his first taste of the prancing horse before then.
Speaking at Ferrari's end-of-season press conference, team principal Fred Vasseur shared that Hamilton could begin testing a two-year-old Ferrari model, likely the SF-23, as early as January. This is in accordance with F1’s Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) regulations. Locations are tentative due to potential weather issues in northern Italy, with Fiorano, Imola, and Mugello all in consideration. Additionally, Hamilton might participate in Pirelli’s 2025 tyre test at Magny Cours in late January.
“We will have the occasion to do a TPC or Pirelli test day,” said Vasseur. “But it’s closely linked to the weather, and we didn’t take a decision [on a date or venue]."
The launch of Ferrari’s 2025 car
February 18 marks an important date on the F1 calendar with the London season launch event. All teams, including Ferrari, will reveal their 2025 liveries. Following this, Hamilton, Vasseur, and Charles Leclerc will attend the launch of Ferrari’s 2025 car in Maranello the day after.
Ferrari will utilize its Fiorano test track for initial runs, which regulations limit to 31 miles for filming or nine miles for demonstrations. Then, Hamilton and his new team will head to Bahrain for the official preseason testing from February 26-28.
Hamilton’s immediate integration
Hamilton’s transition to Ferrari involves intense preparation. Despite finishing seventh in the 2024 season standings—his worst F1 finish—the team isn’t worried about any adaptation issues.
"We know that we will have a lot of procedures to assimilate during these couple of days, but I think he is experienced enough. We’ll have the advantage of the simulator,” Vasseur explained, emphasizing Hamilton’s extensive experience.
Negotiations and environment
Vasseur reflected on the relatively simple process of convincing Hamilton to switch teams. “It was not too difficult to convince him that Ferrari will be a good project,” Vasseur noted, highlighting Hamilton’s longstanding interest in Ferrari.
Transitioning to Ferrari also marks the end of Hamilton’s partnership with his Mercedes race engineer, Peter Bonnington. Ferrari plans no replicas of Hamilton’s previous engineering team, with Riccardo Adami likely to remain as an engineer.
Living arrangements
Hamilton is not expected to permanently relocate to Italy, though the proximity of his Monaco residence makes visits to Maranello easier than those to Mercedes’ UK base. With a packed race schedule, frequent factory visits are less likely.
Hamilton’s willingness to embrace Ferrari’s culture, right down to learning Italian, demonstrates his commitment. “99 percent of the job is in English…but I’m not sure that it’s crucial for the performance,” Vasseur quipped.
Read next ❯ Ferrari to reveal Hamilton's debut F1 car on February 19 at MaranelloConfronting the challenge
The harmony between Hamilton and Leclerc will be crucial. Vasseur’s strategy hinges on mutual respect and competition driving team performance.
“They have a huge mutual respect…It’s much better to fight for 1-2 or 2-3 on the grid than to fight for 19-20,” Vasseur said.
As Hamilton embarks on this storied journey, Ferrari aims for 2025 as a year marked by competitive performance, mutual respect, and the seamless integration of a seven-time world champion into its ranks. The motorsport faithful await this thrilling chapter in F1 history with bated breath.
