First Laps in a Ferrari for Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton at Fiorano

Lewis Hamilton had his first run of the 2025 season in a Ferrari on Wednesday in his eagerly awaited debut with the Italian Formula 1 team, completing 30 laps of at the Fiorano track as he got to grips with his new car, an SF-23 bearing the number 44 which he brought with him from his time at Mercedes and a number he chose and has raced with for many years.

Teammate Charles Leclerc also put in some test laps on what was the first track day of the year.

The conditions were not ideal with rain giving way to thick fog, spoiling the view for the many fans that turned up to get a glimpse of the British driver’s first outing in a Ferrari.

The poor weather did not spoil the occasion though, as Hamilton left the garage for the first time on rain tyres for an installation lap, watched by Team Principal Fred Vasseur and his deputy Jerome d’Ambrosio.

Back in the pits and following some discussions with his race engineer Riccardo Adami, the test really got underway, with Lewis going out on slick tyres to do some flying laps. He also did some practice starts so as to get to grips with all the systems on the car. He completed a total of 30 laps, some 89 kilometres and although he would have liked to have done more, as from this year even the TPC tests (Testing of Previous Cars) which allow teams to run cars that are at least two years old, can only cover a total of a thousand kilometres by the teams’ drivers.

Lewis Hamilton Ferrari laps

Then following the post-session debrief with the race engineers, Hamilton went out to the corner where the fans were gathered to say hello and thank them for their warm welcome during his first few days as a “ferrarista.”

It was then Charles Leclerc’s turn to put in some laps following the lunchbreak where he completed 14 laps (42 kilometres). Following his stint in the car, he also went out to meet the fans who had patiently endured the damp and cold conditions in Maranello.

Following is outing on the track, Hamilton commented:

“I’ve been lucky enough to have many firsts in my career, from the first test to the first race, podium, win and championship, so I wasn’t sure how many more firsts I had but driving a Scuderia Ferrari HP car for the first time this morning, was one of the best feelings of my life. When I started the car up and drove through that garage door, I had the biggest smile on my face. It reminded me of the very first time I tested a Formula 1 car, it was such an exciting and special moment, and here I am, almost twenty years later, feeling those emotions all over again.

“I already knew from the outside how passionate the Ferrari family is, from everyone in the team to the Tifosi! But to now witness it firsthand as a Ferrari driver has been awe-inspiring. That passion runs through their veins, and you can’t help but be energised by it. I’m so grateful for the love I have felt from everyone in Maranello this week, we have a lot of work to do but I can’t wait to get started.”

The first race of the 2025 Formula 1 season kicks off on the weekend of 14-16 March at the 5.278-kilometre Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit in Melbourne at the Australian Grand Prix.

Author Bio:

Simon Burrell is a UK-based motoring and travel journalist and editor, a member of the Guild of Motoring Writers and former saloon car racing driver.

Photographs courtesy of Scuderia Ferrari HP

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