Lewis Hamilton recounts his first time driving a Ferrari: "One of the best moments of my life"
Today at 01:11 PM
It's a week of "firsts" for Lewis Hamilton. From his first day in Maranello as a Ferrari driver, with a visit to the factory and various departments on Monday, to his debut behind the wheel of a Ferrari in the fog of Fiorano on Wednesday, January 22—a day that has already made its mark in the history books.
A partnership that seemed unlikely to ever materialize became a reality in 2025. Hamilton covered his first kilometers in the morning driving a Ferrari SF-23, the 2023 car, in compliance with TPC test regulations, which require the use of a car at least two seasons old.
The seven-time world champion arrived at the team's headquarters in Maranello before moving to the small square by the Fiorano circuit. Under a gray sky with a few drops of rain, reminiscent of his home in England, Hamilton left the Fiorano pit lane for the first time in the SF-23 at 9:16 a.m.
Lewis Hamilton completed around thirty laps split into five runs, including in-out laps and the installation lap that marked the beginning of his Ferrari career. He started the day with full wets due to early morning rain that slightly dampened the track. Later in the day, he switched to white-banded demo slicks as conditions improved.
The 40-year-old's Ferrari debut was trouble-free, apart from a few lock-ups at the chicane on the cold, damp circuit. After handing over the Ferrari to his new teammate Charles Leclerc for the afternoon session, Lewis Hamilton expressed his happiness about his first day in red.
“I've been fortunate to experience many firsts in my career, from my first test to my first race, first podium, first win, and first championship, so I wasn't sure how many more firsts I'd have [in my career],” Lewis Hamilton said.
“But driving a Scuderia Ferrari car for the first time this morning was one of the greatest feelings of my life. When I fired up the engine and drove out of the garage, I had a big smile on my face.”
“It reminded me of the first time I drove a Formula 1 car—it was such an emotional and special moment. And here I am, almost twenty years later, feeling those emotions again.”
After completing his on-track program, LEwis Hamilton briefly greeted the many fans along the circuit. Over the years, the Briton has undoubtedly learned that the Ferrari world is fueled by passion, almost like a religion rather than just a team. However, experiencing it from the inside as an official Ferrari driver is a completely different sensation.
“I already knew from the outside how passionate the Ferrari family is, from all the team members to the fans. But now, as a Ferrari driver, it was impressive to witness this passion firsthand,” said the seven-time world champion.
“The passion runs in their veins, and you can't help but feel energized by it. I'm very grateful for the love I've felt from everyone in Maranello this week. We have a lot of work ahead, but I can't wait to get started.”
In the afternoon, Charles Leclerc also took to the track for his first session of 2025, although it lasted only 14 laps due to the rain. With TPC tests limited by regulations to just 1,000 kilometers for the two official drivers throughout the season, Ferrari decided to end the session around 2 p.m., as the track remained particularly wet.
“The first day in the car is always a fantastic feeling after the holidays. It's great to be back on track and see so many fans coming to watch us. Feeling all this excitement around the team is very motivating. Of course, it was also nice to see Lewis take his first laps with Ferrari—a special moment for the team and for him. Now I can't wait to get back in the car next week,” said Charles Leclerc.
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