Lewis Hamilton won’t have to wait until the start of 2025 Formula 1 testing to drive a Ferrari car for the first time. The Scuderia have drawn up a plan to run the seven-time champion in one of their previous challengers.
Hamilton’s move to Ferrari is without doubt one of the biggest stories in F1 history. It’s a marriage between the sport’s most successful driver and its most iconic team.
His first public appearance in their colours could come at the F175 launch event in London. That’s pencilled in for 18 February.
| TEAM | DRIVER ONE | DRIVER TWO |
| McLaren | Lando Norris | Oscar Piastri |
| Ferrari | Charles Leclerc | Lewis Hamilton |
| Red Bull Racing | Max Verstappen | Liam Lawson |
| Mercedes | George Russell | Kimi Antonelli |
| Aston Martin | Fernando Alonso | Lance Stroll |
| Alpine | Pierre Gasly | Jack Doohan |
| Haas | Esteban Ocon | Oliver Bearman |
| Racing Bulls | Yuki Tsunoda | TBC |
| Williams | Alex Albon | Carlos Sainz |
| Sauber | Nico Hulkenberg | Gabriel Bortoleto |
Just over a week later, the teams will head to Bahrain for three days of pre-season testing. The campaign will then begin with the Australian Grand Prix on 16 March.
Hamilton is due to turn 40 in the first week of 2025. He’s spent his entire career so far at teams based in Britain, so he must adapt to a new culture as well as a new car.
Ferrari are hoping that the blockbuster signing delivers their first title since the 2008 constructors’ crown. They lost out to McLaren this year by just 14 points.
Ferrari have privately chosen dates for Lewis Hamilton debut
Ferrari have the luxury of their own private test track – Fiorano – and from the start of next year, they’ll be allowed to run their 2023 car under the regulations. While the 2025 entrant will differ in character, it will still be useful for Hamilton to drive a Ferrari from the ground-effect era.
Plan A, according to AutoRacer, is for Hamilton to complete his first outing on either 21 January or 22 January. Ferrari are wary of adverse weather conditions, so they’ve drawn up some contingency plans.
They have more dates in mind if the first two are unsuitable. And they could also relocate to Mugello or Imola, the home of the Emilia Romagna GP, if necessary.
Ferrari will hold a car launch separate to the F175 event on 19 February. Hamilton will also be able to drive in Barcelona as part of a Pirelli test.
How Lewis Hamilton contributed to Ferrari axing one ‘great champion’
Ferrari built a contending car for the 2024 season, but they didn’t have enough to win the championship. Their package is fast enough, but they need to improve operationally.
Max Verstappen mocked Ferrari’s radio messages, implying that they’re overly hesitant. Hamilton may demand a higher standard from their engineers.
In Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, Frederic Vasseur boasts perhaps the most formidable line-up on the grid. Leclerc effectively drove Sebastian Vettel out of the team in just his second season.
Ferrari realised that Vettel wasn’t as quick as Hamilton, even though he was a ‘great champion’. They promoted Leclerc to offer a benchmark, and the Monegasque’s superior performances marked the end for the German driver.
