Lewis Hamilton is getting up to speed driving a Ferrari with private tests in Barcelona but one sight from his debut in red at Fiorano stunned new Haas pilot Esteban Ocon.
The Briton and the Frenchman have found fresh homes for the 2025 Formula 1 season after leaving Mercedes and Alpine respectively. Hamilton has replaced Carlos Sainz at Ferrari and Ocon replaced Kevin Magnussen at Haas, who will also run Scuderia loanee Oliver Bearman.
Haas and Ferrari still enjoy very close ties after the American crew sought a partnership with the Maranello giants before their debut back in 2016. As part of the ongoing deal, Ocon was in the Scuderia’s simulator while Hamilton drove a Ferrari F1 car for the first time at Fiorano.
Esteban Ocon stunned by the Tifosi’s ‘crazy’ reaction to Lewis Hamilton’s first Ferrari test at Fioarno
More than 1,000 fans visited Fiorano to watch Hamilton’s first Ferrari run, despite fog plus a persistent threat of rain limiting his outing to predominately exploratory laps. Instead, a trip to Spain was more worthwhile – just for Hamilton to crash in Ferrari’s private Barcelona test.
Seeing so many passionate members of the Tifosi line the streets overlooking Ferrari’s iconic Fiorano test track surprised Ocon, who claims he was ‘lucky’ to be in the same place and on the same day as Hamilton’s debut in red. It also showed Ocon just how much F1 is growing.
READ MORE: Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton’s life outside F1 from net worth to family
“I was lucky enough to be in the same place [and] on the same day because I was also at the simulator at Ferrari,” Ocon told Canal+. “There was a crazy atmosphere.
“People were going crazy and it’s just magnificent in fact to see that there is so much passion for Ferrari, for of course Formula 1, in the world and that it’s growing all the time.
“It is clear that, well, to have the greatest driver of our generation in the most successful team it is just a crazy thing. So, I can’t wait to be able to fight on the track with him.”
Ferrari will hope Esteban Ocon and Haas are not fighting Lewis Hamilton
While Ocon ‘can’t wait’ to fight Hamilton as a Ferrari driver on a track, the Scuderia will not want to see their new recruit battling the Haas driver at all. It would be disastrous for them if the Maranello squad find themselves in a fight with the American crew at any Grand Prix.
Ferrari go into the 2025 season with their eyes set on finally winning their record-extending 17th constructors’ title and a record-extending 16th drivers’ title. The Scuderia last won the teams’ championship in 2008, and Kimi Raikkonen’s in 2007 is still Ferrari’s last drivers’ title.
READ MORE: Haas driver Esteban Ocon’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend
| Position | Constructors’ Standings | Points |
| 1 |
McLaren Racing |
666 |
| 2 |
Scuderia Ferrari |
652 |
| 3 |
Red Bull Racing |
589 |
| 4 |
Mercedes-AMG Petronas |
468 |
| 5 |
Aston Martin F1 Team |
94 |
| 6 |
Alpine F1 Team |
65 |
| 7 |
Haas F1 Team |
58 |
| 8 |
Visa Cash App RB Formula One Team |
46 |
| 9 |
Williams F1 Team |
17 |
| 10 |
Sauber F1 Team |
4 |
The Maranello outfit’s wait for silverware almost came to an end last term as McLaren beat them by 14 points, on 666 to 652, to join Williams as the second-most successful team with nine all-time titles. Haas had their best season since 2018 with 58 points, but came seventh.
If Haas were now genuine rivals for Ferrari in 2025, and Ocon be able to fight Hamilton, the Scuderia would consider the season a total failure. Likewise, Hamilton will not want to fight Ocon at any stage of the season as it could suggest the Briton was wrong to quit Mercedes.
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