Ferrari fans who camped out for hours at a freezing Fiorano circuit on Wednesday morning can claim to have witnessed a small piece of history after watching Lewis Hamilton’s first outing in one of the team’s Formula 1 cars.
Hamilton completed several installation laps in the SF-23 – Ferrari’s 2023 F1 car.
There had previously been talk that Ferrari could delay Hamilton’s run at the last minute due to the weather.
However, despite the thick fog and the fact that the seven-time world champion had to begin the session on wet tyres, the morning went smoothly.
Ferrari fans are already demanding that Hamilton win the championship this year after seeing the briefest of glimpses of his potential at Fiorano.
He’ll continue his preparations in the simulator over the next month or so alongside a more thorough outing at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona.
A quick demonstration run on 19 February will be Hamilton and Charles Leclerc’s first taste of action in the 2025 car before pre-season testing begins in Bahrain the following week.
Hamilton’s first run nearly went without a hitch, however, fans spotted one mistake he made before returning to the garage.
Surprisingly, this prompted an even more positive response from onlookers who are even more excited for his debut at the Australian Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton testing lock-up prompts positive response from Ferrari fans
The Instagram post from photographer Giuseppe Chiaromonte shows a video of Hamilton locking his wheels before running wide at a tight right-hand corner.
He shared the clip alongside the caption: “First mistake by Lewis in Fiorano! Wet track!”
One fan commented: “First mistake … hard tyres, cold track, first approach with the car, first approach with a track…
“Do we want to give it to them or is it already cooked on the first lap?”
Another fan said: “It’s the first time around, it fits,” while another commented: “Fiorano is too small and cramped… A 50s track for 2025 cars.”
One fan made a salient point and explained: “You need to make mistakes here to be perfect in the race.”
READ MORE: How Lewis Hamilton’s first Ferrari laps at Fiorano compared to Michael Schumacher and Charles Leclerc’s fastest times
This thought process was echoed by another commenter who said: “Locking is a good sign, it means that he is trying everything for the right time.”
There was plenty of positivity around Hamilton’s first run with another ignoring his small lock-up and stating: “It’s also good to debut in this weather (new car + new track)”
One person couldn’t help but make a tongue-in-cheek comment about Hamilton’s move and replied: “It’s the second [mistake], the first was to sign the contract.”
Lewis Hamilton debuts new helmet as iconic 44 returns to a Ferrari F1 car
Only one driver has won a race wearing the number 44 on a Ferrari before but not since the very early days of Formula 1.
After more than a decade of Hamilton’s number being associated with Mercedes, it was unusual to see it on the front and side of Ferrari’s 2023 car.
He also wore a brand-new helmet – aptly using Modena Yellow tone which had been developed by Ferrari – to differentiate himself from Leclerc.
READ MORE: Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton’s life outside F1 from net worth to family
Hamilton and Leclerc’s official race suit and Ferrari’s newest livery won’t be revealed until February’s F1 75 event in London.
It would be a surprise if the 40-year-old hasn’t had a say in the uniform he’ll be wearing this year given how fashion-conscious he is.
It’s the latest way Hamilton is likely to have an impact on Ferrari this year, although all eyes will be on whether he can raise his game on the track to win an eighth world championship.
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