Lewis Hamilton's first day in Maranello: duties and preparations for first Ferrari test
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Ferrari fans are eagerly anticipating the arrival of their newest star in the world of Formula 1, as Lewis Hamilton prepares to join the team for the 2025 season. With the announcement of his move to Ferrari, excitement has been building, and the iconic Italian team has been fueling the hype through social media posts over the past few weeks, hinting at his first official appearance.
Although Hamilton won't drive the 2025 Ferrari car until pre-season testing in Bahrain at the end of February, he won't be left waiting to experience the car. The seven-time world champion is set to get behind the wheel of one of Ferrari's older models, most likely the 2023 SF-23, during at least one private test. Ferrari is, however, approaching his debut with caution, and much about his first run at Fiorano has been deliberately kept under wraps, likely due to concerns over one specific issue.
Lewis Hamilton is expected to participate in up to three private tests before the season kicks off in Bahrain. Team principal Frederic Vasseur is eager to give his new star as much time as possible to settle into his new role and adapt to his new environment. A recent report from the Daily Mail provided more details on what Lewis Hamilton's first day at Maranello will entail.
While Lewis Hamilton won't be jumping into any Ferrari cars immediately, his time at the team's factory will prove crucial for his development as a Ferrari driver in the upcoming season. According to the report, Lewis Hamilton will begin his Ferrari journey on a Monday after a winter break, during which he indulged in various winter sports, a hobby he shares with his new teammate, Charles Leclerc, who has also been keeping fit through similar activities.
Lewis Hamilton's official signing with the Italian side was announced last February, and his departure from Mercedes has been a gradual process, stretching through much of the 2024 season. On his first day at Maranello, the British driver is expected to meet the team's staff, the people he'll be working with during the 2025 season and beyond. In addition, he will spend time in the team's simulator to familiarize himself with Ferrari's technical systems.
The British driver is also expected to head to Ferrari's private test track on Wednesday for his first outing in a Ferrari car. However, the team has made it clear that if the weather conditions aren't ideal, Lewis Hamilton's first test could be delayed. Given the high level of anticipation, Ferrari fans are likely to flock to Fiorano to try to catch a glimpse of Lewis Hamilton's debut, prompting the team to maintain a high level of secrecy about the timing of his first run on the track.
With less than a month before Hamilton officially dons his Ferrari uniform at the F1-75 launch, and just a week before he takes part in pre-season testing in Bahrain, the countdown is on for one of the most anticipated debuts in recent F1 history.
Before his signing with Ferrari, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion had often spoken about the passionate Tifosi, who are among the most dedicated fans in the sport. Although Lewis Hamilton set the fastest lap in F1 history at Monza, he did not have the opportunity to do so in front of Ferrari's home crowd due to the pandemic. However, now as a Ferrari driver, he will be acutely aware of the immense passion and expectations that come with racing for the Scuderia, knowing the weight of the legacy and the fervor of the Italian fans.
Back in 2019, the British driver told the F1 website that he considered himself very fortunate to have a strong Italian following. He explained that Ferrari fans, especially with the team's recent win and the lack of a championship since 2007, were eager for success. He believed they likely related his recent championship victories to that yearning. As time went on, he noticed an increasing number of Ferrari fans messaging him on social media, expressing their respect for him despite their allegiance to Ferrari. He acknowledged that things had shifted over time. However, he also recognized that Ferrari now had two excellent drivers and was confident that the fans were happy with their new young star. Lewis Hamilton expressed his happiness in seeing how the young driver would progress.
After six long years, Ferrari fans have finally seen their dream come true: the sport’s most successful driver is now behind the wheel of one of their cars.
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