Thirty-eight days after Lewis Hamilton made his extremely anticipated debut as an official Ferrari driver, entering into Maranello and posing for the now-iconic photograph outdoors Enzo Ferrari’s workplace in an all-black swimsuit, the seven-time World Champion is about to expertise his first true encounter with Ferrari’s 2025 equipment. This may occur through the official three-day pre-season check in Bahrain, marking the subsequent important milestone in his transition to his new staff.
It’s been a whirlwind few weeks for the British driver, who has returned to work sooner than common to maximise his time acclimating to the Ferrari staff. After spending the previous 12 years at Mercedes, the change has been a big shift in each surroundings and expectations, and Lewis Hamilton has embraced the problem head-on.
His journey with Ferrari started with an in depth sequence of introductions. He made it a degree to fulfill with each division in Maranello, personally shaking arms with round 1,500 Ferrari staff, ensuring to construct connections and be taught the internal workings of the staff.
Simply days later, Hamilton had a sleepless night time in his motorhome, parked only a stone’s throw from the farmhouse that housed Enzo Ferrari’s workplace. Pleasure stored him awake as he anticipated his first official check in Ferrari equipment – a 30-lap session in a 2023-spec automobile at Ferrari’s famed Fiorano check observe. The expertise exceeded his expectations, with followers cheering from behind the fences as he obtained behind the wheel. His household was additionally current for the momentous event, including a private contact to the occasion.
The situation of Hamilton’s motorhome, adjoining to the observe, made the early mornings extra manageable. He would rise at 7 am native time and start his day with a couple of laps on the circuit, benefiting from the proximity of his base. The setup allowed him to seamlessly transfer between the observe, staff workplaces, and his motorhome, making it a really perfect surroundings for work and rest. It additionally supplied a singular alternative to carry working lunches along with his new engineers in a cushty, non-public area, dashing up his integration with the staff and serving to him settle into his new Ferrari life extra rapidly. Hamilton expressed that having the whole staff beneath one roof was a singular expertise he had by no means encountered earlier than, noting that in his earlier staff, Mercedes, the engine base and aerodynamic headquarters had been positioned in separate locations. He additionally talked about how unbelievable it was to have the observe simply outdoors the manufacturing facility, permitting them to roll out the automobile and take it onto the observe in Fiorano. Moreover, he shared how fascinating it was to be taught concerning the historical past of the place.
Final Wednesday, Hamilton’s transient stroll to work proved particularly helpful. He and the Ferrari staff had solely simply returned from London, arriving simply earlier than 4 a.m. after attending the F1 75 Reside occasion at The O2. Regardless of the late arrival, each Hamilton and his teammate Charles Leclerc had simply a few hours to relaxation earlier than the demanding day forward. Their filming schedule and first official run within the 2025 Ferrari automobile had been set to start shortly thereafter, leaving them with little time to recharge earlier than diving straight into the motion. He talked about that Charles was the primary to drive the automobile, however he made a degree to make sure he stayed awake in order that Charles wouldn’t be the one one coping with the results of lack of sleep.
Hamilton is leaving no element neglected in his efforts to settle into his new staff. After years of forming robust relationships and familiarizing himself with the internal workings at Mercedes, becoming a member of Ferrari has felt like beginning over, much like coming into a brand new college. The reset button has been hit, and Hamilton is raring to maximise his time along with his new colleagues to make a clean transition.
A part of his integration course of contains studying Italian by means of personalised classes, constructing upon the fundamental information he acquired throughout his karting days in Italy as a youngster. Whereas English stays the first language of communication inside the staff, Hamilton has made important strides in understanding Italian. He can now comply with conversations when his colleagues communicate in Italian and has develop into snug partaking in easy conversations along with his mechanics. These exchanges typically concentrate on private matters, comparable to household and weekend actions, additional fostering a way of camaraderie and easing his transition into the Ferrari household.
Hamilton’s integration into Ferrari is an thrilling chapter in his profession, and he’s leaving no stone unturned as he will get conversant in his new staff. After a few years at Mercedes, the place he constructed deep relationships and discovered the ins and outs of the staff, entering into Ferrari looks like beginning contemporary, virtually like coming into a brand new college. Keen to ascertain himself and settle in, Hamilton has made it a precedence to spend as a lot face-to-face time as doable along with his new colleagues, serving to him rapidly construct a powerful reference to everybody.
A part of his immersion into the Ferrari tradition entails studying Italian. He has began one-on-one classes, increasing on the fundamental information he gained from his teenage years, when he raced go-karts in Italy. Whereas English stays the staff’s main language, Hamilton is already understanding portion of what’s stated when colleagues converse in Italian. He’s additionally begun having informal conversations along with his mechanics about private issues, comparable to household and weekend actions, making his transition smoother whereas additional bonding with the staff.
Hamilton’s newfound expertise in Italian got here in useful throughout an vital second early in his time at Ferrari, when he skilled the primary crash in a Ferrari throughout a non-public check in Barcelona. Although understandably nervous about returning to the storage to face his mechanics, Hamilton was met with nothing however assist. The staff was more than pleased for him to push the boundaries in non-public testing, the place the stakes are decrease in comparison with pre-season testing or race weekends.
Getting accustomed to Ferrari’s equipment has been a big problem for Hamilton, as he rapidly found that the automobile operates in a “fully totally different” method than something he’s pushed earlier than. Nonetheless, he discovered the expertise to be thrilling, and he’s been working exhausting to get a greater grasp of the automobile’s setup and the distinctive terminology Ferrari makes use of. This has required an adjustment interval, however Hamilton stays assured that he gained’t should drastically alter his driving fashion. Whereas he feels snug within the automobile, he acknowledges that the actual check will come at race circuits, the place he’ll see how effectively he adapts.
To take advantage of his time at Ferrari, Hamilton has continued to make use of his motorhome as a base throughout his keep in Maranello. The motorhome supplies him with time effectivity and luxury, however he’s additionally seeking to get a spot in Milan through the season. Though Milan is a two-hour commute from Maranello, it provides a greater steadiness of social connections and entry to mates, which he felt was extra invaluable than dwelling close to Maranello, the place he can be considerably remoted.
On the morning of his first check with Ferrari, Hamilton had an unforgettable second when he seemed within the mirror and noticed himself carrying the well-known crimson overalls for the primary time. The sight was surreal and symbolized the start of his new life with Ferrari. For him, being a part of Ferrari is an honor, and moments like these have been a continuing reminder of the importance of this new chapter.
Hamilton is genuinely revitalized by the challenges Ferrari presents. The passion he feels for this new journey is akin to the thrill he felt when he first joined McLaren and when he began a brand new period with Mercedes. He’s recognized for his dedication and lengthy days on the observe, typically being the primary to reach and the final to depart. This dedication has continued at Ferrari, however what stands out this time is his newfound pleasure to be there. Not like latest years, the place he generally felt drained by the calls for of the job, Hamilton is now keen to place in additional effort and is having fun with the method of working along with his new staff.
He admits that he by no means thought he’d be so passionate about going to work at this stage in his profession. The constructive vitality he’s obtained from everybody at Ferrari, in addition to the assist from followers, has reinvigorated him. Whereas he’s conscious that some might criticize his transfer, Hamilton feels that these voices are irrelevant in comparison with the thrill of the journey he’s now on.
Although there are a lot of new faces at Ferrari, Hamilton is lucky to have a number of acquainted names round him to assist along with his transition. He has been mates with Ferrari Chairman John Elkann for years and has additionally had common contact with Group Principal Fred Vasseur, having raced beneath Vasseur’s management within the GP2 sequence. He additionally is aware of a number of latest Ferrari recruits, together with Jerome d’Ambrosio and Loic Serra, each of whom he labored with at Mercedes.
From the second Hamilton knew he can be becoming a member of Ferrari alongside Charles Leclerc, he made it a precedence to construct a powerful relationship along with his new teammate. Hamilton and Leclerc have all the time gotten alongside effectively, and since their pairing at Ferrari, Hamilton has made an effort to attach with Leclerc extra incessantly. They share widespread floor, and Hamilton has praised Leclerc’s unbelievable work ethic and the dear insights he’s gained from his six years at Ferrari. Collectively, they goal to raise the staff, and Hamilton believes they are going to be one of many strongest driver pairings on the grid.
Hamilton is beneath no illusions concerning the problem forward. Whereas he had months of testing forward of his F1 debut with McLaren and a number of pre-season checks with Mercedes, his time with Ferrari is extra restricted. He may have just one.5 days of operating within the present automobile through the Bahrain pre-season check, adopted by the season opener in Australia. Regardless of this, Hamilton has made probably the most of his time within the automobile, having already accomplished non-public checks at Fiorano and Barcelona in 2023-spec vehicles, in addition to further runs in a modified 2024 automobile. These experiences have given him invaluable perception, however he admits that he’s nonetheless acclimating to the Ferrari automobile.
Hamilton stays decided to be prepared for the primary race of the season, although he is aware of that adapting to a brand new automobile takes time. He remembers it took him six months to win his first race with Mercedes, and he’s dedicated to placing within the work to be absolutely ready for race one. The Bahrain check shall be a vital alternative for Hamilton to construct a rhythm with the automobile, fine-tune his understanding of its setup, and work with the staff to unlock its full potential.
Ferrari appears to be in place after their strongest marketing campaign in years, and if they will carry that momentum into the brand new season, Hamilton may have a steady, balanced automobile that may battle for high positions. It should then be as much as him to maximise that potential and take advantage of the velocity out there. This week’s check will present a glimpse into how Hamilton is adjusting to the brand new problem and whether or not he can rise to the event.
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