Lewis Hamilton has been preparing extensively for his first season with Ferrari. The Brit has conducted four private tests ahead of pre-season testing in Bahrain.
The seven-time champion made his first outing for the Maranello outfit at Fiorano in January, driving the SF-23 in a TPC test (Testing of Previous Cars).
Thousands of Ferrari fans turned up to watch the historic moment – it had been almost a year’s wait before Hamilton drove a red car. The mayor of Maranello declared a state of emergency due to the sheer level of people who came to witness the test.
After his outing in Fiorano, Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc headed to Barcelona for a behind-closed-doors test. The duo ran another TPC session and tested the 2026 Pirelli tyres.
Hamilton crashed on the first day in Barcelona at turn 12. Ferrari played down the incident, but Leclerc’s outing had to be scrapped with the team not changing their schedule.
Ferrari ran an ‘unprecedented’ set-up for Hamilton’s tyre test for Pirelli to simulate 2026 levels of downforce. McLaren were also present, with Oscar Piastri outpacing Hamilton in the test.
Ferrari have yet to give Lewis Hamilton his ‘definitive’ steering wheel after four private tests
The 40-year-old will be looking to get the upper hand on his rivals after being outpaced in previous outings. But it must be said that timings in private tests should not be taken too seriously due to different set-ups, track conditions and other circumstances.
This is especially the case for Hamilton’s latest Ferrari test at Fiorano. The Brit got his first outing in the SF-25 alongside Leclerc on Wednesday – taking the car in the afternoon while his teammate tested in the morning.
It came mere hours after the F1 75 launch event where Ferrari unveiled their 2025 challenger’s livery. Hamilton woke up early to join Leclerc – who had only two and a half hours of sleep – in a gesture that is sure to delight team boss Fred Vasseur.
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Leclerc went 0.8 seconds faster than Hamilton in the first run of the SF-25. The Monagasque driver’s outing was so impressive that Leclerc almost broke the Fiorano track record set by Michael Schumacher,
According to journalist Rosario Giuliana, there are two clear reasons why it is a ‘waste of time’ to compare the Ferrari duo’s times. Hamilton was on a ‘completely different work program’ to Leclerc which will have affected his times.
Furthermore – and perhaps the most alarming – Hamilton ‘didn’t yet have his definitive steering wheel.’ While the 40-year-old is still in the ‘learning process’ at Ferrari, the fact he has not tested with his 2025 steering wheel is a slight concern ahead of testing in Bahrain.
Lewis Hamilton outlines ‘completely different’ communication style at Ferrari to Mercedes
Hamilton faces the difficult task of adjusting to a whole new environment with new colleagues, a new language and a new engine. The Brit had spent his entire F1 career up to this point with Mercedes machinery.
But Hamilton is invigorated by his fresh adventure – one that he desperately needed after enduring his worst finish in F1 to date in 2024.
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The 40-year-old is still learning Ferrari and how they operate. Hamilton says the communication style is ‘completely different’ to Mercedes – which will be crucial in 2025 in terms of strategy.
Getting off to a strong start will be critical for the seven-time champion – and he is more motivated than ever to make his stint with Ferrari a successful one.
Hamilton could not stop smiling in his interview with journalist Lawrence Barretto. This highlights just how excited the Brit is to be at Ferrari – and he could be a serious competitor if the SF-25 has the raw pace.
