Lewis Hamilton's first day at Ferrari F1

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In a significant moment in Formula One's history, Lewis Hamilton has worn a red Ferrari race suit for the first time as he officially became part of the iconic Italian racing team at its headquarters in Maranello, Italy.

Not since Michael Schumacher joined the team almost 30 years ago has a driver's arrival at the Italian team sparked such a monumental response from Ferrari fans – the 'tifosi' – around the world.

Hamilton – who has moved from Mercedes-AMG after winning six of his seven world titles with the team – spent his first day in red at the Maranello factory becoming acquainted with his new team, undergoing a seat fitting and participating in various briefings.

MORE: Seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari in 2025

He also posed for arguably one of the most commanding images of an F1 driver ever taken – wearing a double-breasted suit and long coat – with fans on social media comparing the image with Schumacher’s arrival at the team for the 1996 season.

The British driver has also revealed the first image of him in a red Ferrari race suit, a dramatic change after 11 seasons wearing silver and black and his previous Mercedes-Benz team.

"There are some days that you know you'll remember forever and today, my first as a Ferrari driver, is one of those days," Hamilton posted on social media.

"I've been lucky enough to have achieved things in my career I never thought possible, but part of me has always held on to that dream of racing in red. I couldn't be happier to realise that dream today.

"Today we start a new era in the history of this iconic team, and I can't wait to see what story we will write together."

According to Autosport, Hamilton's arrival has seen hotels in the surrounding Sassuolo area fully booked, while the mayor of Maranello has requested increased security measures for the Ferrari factory and race circuit. 

Hamilton will drive a Ferrari F1 car for the first time when he takes to the Fiorano test circuit at 11:00am local time (9:00pm AEDT) on Wednesday 22 January.

With F1 rules limiting the number of testing kilometres for teams and drivers, Hamilton is expected to be behind the wheel of a 2022 F1 car – a Ferrari F1-75 – for his debut drive.

Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc is expected to be on track alongside the former Mercedes-AMG driver on Wednesday.

Hamilton joins Ferrari in 2025 hoping to take a record eighth World Drivers’ Championship, with the Englishman currently sharing the record of seven titles with Michael Schumacher.

After winning two championships with Benetton, Schumacher won five consecutive titles with Ferrari – a feat Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen is looking to match this season, after claiming four in a row between 2021-2024.

Yet Ferrari has not won a driver's title since Kimi Raikkonen pipped then-rookie Hamilton for the 2007 crown by a single point.

Felipe Massa came close to winning the 2008 title for Ferrari but sensationally lost to Hamilton on the last corner of the last race by a single point.

Since then, Fernando Alonso raced for Ferrari (2010-14) followed by Sebastian Vettel (2015-20) – both having won multiple titles with other teams – looking to emulate the golden era of Schumacher, but neither claimed a single championship for the team.

Hamilton, who turned 40 years old on 7 January, is entering his 18th consecutive season in Formula One as the most successful driver of all time, with 106 Grand Prix wins – the most recent at the 2024 British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Ferrari is only the third team of his F1 career and it will be the first time he has raced an F1 car with an engine not made by Mercedes-Benz.

The Italian outfit's poaching of the Brit from Mercedes-Benz is one of its biggest power plays as the team looks to overcome a strong showing from Australian Oscar Piastri's McLaren team – winners of the 2024 Constructors’ Championship – and the undeniable talent of reigning drivers’ champion Verstappen at Red Bull.

Hamilton will also have a younger, supremely fast Charles Leclerc as his Ferrari team-mate, and will be looking to prove he's on-form after being beaten by George Russell – statistically – in the last three seasons at Mercedes-AMG.

The 2025 season will also be the last of the current rule set, with a generational change in regulations for 2026 and the arrival of new cars and brands including Audi, Cadillac and Ford.

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