There is a sense of anticipation building as Lewis Hamilton took to the legendary Fiorano test track for the first time in a Ferrari.
The Tifosi fans had been waiting for nearly a year to catch their next world-class driver in red, after Hamilton sensationally confirmed that he would be leaving Mercedes at the end of 2024.
Rumours that Hamilton would be testing at Fiorano had swirled for months, so the image of the seven-time world champion posing in front of Enzo Ferrari’s old house became confirmation that he would be taking to the track for the first time this week.
Around 3,000 Ferrari fans showed up on the morning of the test at a foggy Fiorano, with the 40-year-old completing around 30 laps. It bodes well for Hamilton that there were no issues in the morning, with the whole session running smoothly.
It was designed to help acquaint him with Ferrari ahead of the 2025 season, as Hamilton looks to add an eighth world title to his tally of seven. The Briton will be following in the footsteps of other world champion drivers who have raced for the Italian team, and there is one stat that could prove he is in for early success.
Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel both got first wins within first two races at Ferrari
The last world champion to race for Ferrari was Sebastian Vettel, who won 14 races with the team between 2015 and 2020.
Vettel took his first victory with the team in only his second race with them, at the 2015 Malaysian Grand Prix. Although he was unlikely to win the title that year due to Mercedes dominance, it set their partnership on course for success.
| Driver | Date Joined Ferrari | First win for Ferrari |
| Sebastian Vettel | 2015 | 2015 Malaysian Grand Prix (2nd race of season) |
| Fernando Alonso | 2010 | 2010 Bahrain Grand Prix (1st race of season) |
| Kimi Raikkonen | 2007 | 2007 Australian Grand Prix (1st race of season) |
| Michael Schumacher | 1996 | 1996 Spanish Grand Prix (7th race of season) |
Fernando Alonso took 11 victories with Ferrari while driving for them between 2010 and 2014, although he almost won a third title with them in 2010.
After winning the opening round in Bahrain because of a spark plug failure for Sebastian Vettel, he would go on to challenge for the title. The Spaniard ultimately missed out on it at the end of the season, following a difficult race at Abu Dhabi.
Kimi Raikkonen also won his first race with Ferrari, although he was yet to be crowned world champion when it happened.
Can Lewis Hamilton win a title with Ferrari?
The question on everyone’s mind is whether Hamilton can take another title at Ferrari given all of the circumstances that surround him.
Hamilton is now 40 years old and will be the first driver since Jack Brabham in 1966 to win a title at that age, with only Juan Manuel Fangio and Giuseppe Farina managing the same feat.
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Add into the mix that Hamilton will also be going up against one-lap specialist Charles Leclerc, and it is not going to be a straightforward job by any means for the seven-time world champion.
Nico Rosberg thinks Leclerc will beat Hamilton in his first year at Ferrari, while Hamilton has been told he must take inspiration from Niki Lauda to beat his younger teammate.
