Lewis Hamilton is about to drive Ferrari’s 2025 Components 1 automotive for the primary time subsequent week, with a shakedown scheduled for 19 February on the Fiorano take a look at monitor. The event will mark a serious milestone in his journey with the Scuderia as he will get behind the wheel of the crimson machine.
Nonetheless, the temper at Ferrari is considerably combined in regards to the upcoming launch of the F175 in London. The crew is pissed off by the necessity to fly to the occasion, particularly as their UK-based opponents will solely have to make a brief journey. Regardless of the logistics, all eyes will probably be on Hamilton, who is anticipated to be the principle attraction as he makes his first official look as a Ferrari driver. Though hundreds of followers have been current for his first take a look at final month, that occasion was meant to be personal. Staff principal Fred Vasseur has labored exhausting to maintain the media frenzy round Hamilton’s signing in examine.
Following his first outing with Ferrari within the 2023 automotive, Lewis Hamilton traveled to Barcelona, the place a crash on the second day disrupted Ferrari’s testing plan. Whereas the crew downplayed the importance of the incident, it did forged a shadow over the proceedings. Nonetheless, he additionally took half in a Pirelli tyre take a look at in a modified SF-24 on the identical circuit, which reportedly went with none main points.
Probably the most essential second in Lewis Hamilton’s pre-season preparation would be the official take a look at in Bahrain, which is simply over two weeks away. Off the monitor, Lewis Hamilton has been making efforts to combine along with his new colleagues and inspire the crew as he settles into his position on the Italian aspect.
At Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters, Hamilton made a major gesture that has already been well-received by the crew. Showing on stage with Fred Vasseur and teammate Charles Leclerc, Hamilton addressed the employees in Italian, thanking them for his or her heat welcome and expressing his pleasure about driving for Ferrari—a dream he has lengthy harbored. Though Lewis Hamilton needed to learn from his cellphone, Ferrari workers appreciated his effort to be taught the language and immerse himself in his new environment. This gesture went a great distance in gaining the help of the crew, with the group giving him the warmest reception. Whereas Leclerc is already fluent in Italian, Lewis Hamilton will little question proceed to work on his language abilities as he settles into life on the Maranello crew.
Lewis Hamilton’s efforts are already being in comparison with these of Michael Schumacher, who, regardless of a legendary profession at Ferrari, by no means made the hassle to talk Italian throughout his time with the crew. In distinction, Hamilton has made it clear that his want to win stays as robust as ever, and he’s dedicated to pushing for a world championship with Ferrari. Former F1 driver Jaime Alguersuari has instructed that Lewis Hamilton’s transfer to Ferrari is about extra than simply successful—it’s additionally about having fun with his time with the crew earlier than retirement. Nonetheless, regardless of this, it’s clear the British driver wouldn’t have made the swap if he didn’t consider he might nonetheless problem for an eighth world title.
Along with his Italian efforts already going additional than Michael Schumacher’s, Lewis Hamilton has set a powerful basis in his quest to endear himself to Ferrari and show that he’s not simply there for enjoyable, however to win and add to his legendary profession.