Ferrari: Lewis Hamilton's first Maranello sim session confirmed before expected F1 test run

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Ferrari supporters have been eagerly awaiting the moment when Lewis Hamilton will finally take to the track in one of their Formula 1 cars, a moment that is now on the horizon after nearly a year of anticipation.

At the start of February 2024, Hamilton made the groundbreaking announcement that he would be leaving Mercedes, his long-time team, to join Ferrari for the final chapter of his F1 career. With the 2025 season fast approaching, Ferrari enters the new campaign with ambitious goals, hoping to surpass McLaren in the Constructors’ Championship and capitalize on the addition of their new driver pairing.

Charles Leclerc has already established himself as one of the most consistent and reliable drivers on the grid, but the arrival of Hamilton is expected to push him to elevate his performance even further, making the partnership between the two Ferrari drivers one of the most anticipated in recent F1 history.

Although Ferrari has been tight-lipped about the exact timing of Hamilton’s first on-track test, it is widely speculated that the team will have him behind the wheel of one of their older cars sooner rather than later, especially given that teams like Mercedes and Haas have already begun their pre-season runs.

For Hamilton, the transition to Ferrari will be unlike any change he has experienced since moving from McLaren to Mercedes in 2013. Even then, the switch was somewhat familiar, as Mercedes had previously been McLaren's engine supplier. This time, however, the move to Ferrari will be a completely new challenge, one that will require a steep learning curve.

A recent report from the Italian news media outlet Autoracer has revealed more about Hamilton's early steps in adapting to Ferrari, with details emerging about his simulator sessions ahead of his first test. Although the Tifosi are eager to see Hamilton in Ferrari's iconic red cars, team principal Frederic Vasseur has opted for a more behind-the-scenes approach, with Hamilton starting his adaptation in the simulator before heading to the track.

Hamilton, who is allowed unlimited running in the simulator, will spend a significant amount of time refining his skills and getting acclimatized to Ferrari's car and team dynamics. While on-track testing will be critical for his preparation, most of his work for the 2025 season will take place in Maranello, where he will spend time behind closed doors getting familiar with the team's processes and systems.

The report suggests that there is already palpable “optimism and enthusiasm” at Ferrari about Hamilton's upcoming work at their Maranello factory. Hamilton is expected to meet with his engineers in the coming days and begin his simulator sessions soon after. While Ferrari plans to officially unveil Hamilton and their new SF-25 car on February 19, the day following F1's launch event in London, Hamilton will have already made considerable progress in his preparations by then. His first session in the Ferrari simulator is scheduled for January 20, marking the official start of his journey with the Scuderia.
Ferrari's Fiorano test track is fully booked from January 21 to January 23, with the team considering January 22 to be the “most likely” date for Lewis Hamilton’s much-anticipated debut behind the wheel of a Ferrari Formula 1 car. However, the schedule remains subject to change, as unfavorable weather conditions could push the test to a different date. Since Hamilton is only permitted 1,000 kilometers of private running this year, both he and the team are determined not to waste any valuable time, especially if rain is expected.

Hamilton's first experience in a Ferrari car will not involve the team's latest 2025 challenger, as Ferrari – along with all other F1 teams – is not allowed to begin testing their 2025 cars until the official pre-season testing in Bahrain. Teams are permitted two filming days where they can run a current spec car for a maximum of 200 kilometers per day, but it doesn't seem that Ferrari will use these filming days prior to their Bahrain test. Therefore, Hamilton's initial run will take place in one of Ferrari's older cars from the 2022 Formula 1 season.

For his first test session, Ferrari will put Hamilton in the F1-75, the car from the 2022 season. The focus will not be on outright speed around the Fiorano circuit but rather on Hamilton's adaptation to Ferrari's specific car setup, which includes familiarizing himself with the team's steering wheel, controls, and the subtle differences between Ferrari and his former Mercedes machinery.

Hamilton will work closely with race engineer Riccardo Adami for this test session, as Peter Bonnington, his long-time race engineer from Mercedes, will not be joining him at Ferrari. Instead, Peter Bonnington will continue his partnership with Andrea Kimi Antonelli. This marks a significant shift for Hamilton, as he adapts to new team dynamics, with all the track time he can get being crucial in the lead-up to the Australian Grand Prix.

The time spent together with Riccardo Adami will be invaluable, as Ferrari's team will need to work efficiently to ensure Hamilton is fully prepared for the 2025 season. This partnership is particularly significant, as former Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel had much to say about Riccardo Adami's influence and role during their time working together.

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