Lewis Hamilton’s extensive preparations at Ferrari will soon be put to the test when he makes his debut in red at the Australian Grand Prix.
The seven-time champion has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to get accustomed to his new environment. Hamilton has been putting in long hours at the Maranello factory to get into gear for 2025.
Ferrari have been giving the Brit substantial mileage in their cars during the winter period, with four private tests being run in Barcelona and their test circuit in Fiorano.
Hamilton crashed the SF-23 in Barcelona in what was a minor setback for his preparations. Nevertheless, Hamilton reported positive feedback to his engineers about the car despite the accident at turn 12.
The Brit has been looking to get himself integrated into Ferrari as quickly as possible, embracing the culture of the team and striking a bond with his new colleagues.
Hamilton has been learning Italian – something Michael Schumacher was not liked for avoiding – and has moved his motorhome close to Enzo Ferrari’s old house. He wants to make himself comfortable with his team and car before his first race in Melbourne,
Lewis Hamilton has made one change to his Ferrari steering wheel that has not been seen since 2015
During the 40-year-old’s private tests, Ferrari did not give Hamilton his ‘definitive’ steering wheel. He would have used the 2025 version for the first time during pre-season testing in Bahrain.
The seven-time champion has been known to make adjustments to his steering wheel to make him as comfortable as possible with the car. This was seen during his time at Mercedes, which was key to his incredible success.
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As per a report from Motorsport.com, Hamilton has looked to do the same thing at Ferrari, who have ‘always tried to accommodate a driver’s request’ to make any changes to the car’s systems.
Looking at Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc’s steering wheel, there is a noticeable difference on the back. The former has ‘seemingly relocated’ the electrical system management (S0C) to the lower part of his steering wheel.
This is an ‘intriguing observation’ since ‘no Ferrari driver’ has done this since 2015 – when Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen were the Maranello outfit’s pairing.
Martin Brundle has made a ‘bold prediction’ for Lewis Hamilton’s first season with Ferrari
As the Australian Grand Prix nears closer, many are eagerly waiting for Hamilton’s first race as a Ferrari driver. Fans and pundits will hope his stint at the Maranello outfit is a success after his disappointing 2024 campaign with Mercedes.
The Brit recorded the lowest finish of his career last season with seventh place as he struggled again with inconsistent machinery. Now, Hamilton is ‘reinvigorated’ in his new colours as he searches for his eighth title.
Martin Brundle backs Hamilton for multiple race wins at Ferrari in 2025. The SF-25 looks competitive after pre-season but the feeling is McLaren still have the quickest car after seeing it on the track in Bahrain.
The 40-year-old will be keen to get off to a good start with Ferrari in Melbourne. Hamilton is reminded of his F1 debut in 2007 by his first race for Ferrari – he will look to replicate his third-place finish that day with McLaren.
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