Hamilton makes his debut in red

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has made his track debut for Ferrari, lapping the team’s Fiorano track in a 2023 car.

The Briton headed out on to the track at 09:15 on the dot, a light fog hanging over the figure-of-eight circuit on which rain was falling.

Wearing the iconic red of the Italian team, and sporting a bright yellow helmet, echoing the, Modena inspired yellow background of the famous Ferrari shield, the Briton headed out in an SF-263 on wet demonstration tyres.

In oder to allow Hamilton maximum time to acclimatise himself with his new team, teammate Charles Leclerc has agreed to take a ‘back seat’ role in these early pre-season runs, which will also see the Briton at the wheel of an F1-75 from the 2022 season.

Members of Hamilton’s family were there and were clearly excited as Vice President, Piero Ferrari also arrived to watch the action.

The test really got underway, when Hamilton switched to slick, while also attempting some practice starts as he got to grips with all the systems on the car.

He completed a total of 30 laps, equal to 89 kilometres. He would have liked to do more, but as from this year even the TPC tests (Testing of Previous Cars), which allow teams to run cars that are at least two years old, can only cover a total of a thousand kilometres in the hands of the teams’ race drivers.

Following a debrief with the engineers, Hamilton went out to the corner where the fans were gathered to say hello and thank them for their warm welcome for his first few days as a “Ferrarista”.

During the lunchbreak, the fog was washed away by light drizzle, as the mechanics changed the configuration on the car, after which, at 13.32 the SF-23 went back out on track bearing Leclerc’s number 16.

In the morning, the Monegasque was in meetings in the Maranello offices and now, 43 days after the Abu Dhabi test, he was back in the cockpit.

Obviously, he ran a different programme to Hamilton. Vasseur and Jerome d’Ambrosio keen observers as Leclerc completed 14 laps, equivalent to 42 kilometres bringing today’s total to 44 laps and 131 kilometres.

At the end of the afternoon, he also went out to meet the fans who had patiently endured the damp and cold conditions. Earlier, he got them cheering with some celebratory “donuts” on track. The 2025 season is underway.

“I’ve been lucky enough to have many firsts in my career,” said Hamilton, “from the first test to the first race, podium, win and championship, so I wasn’t sure how many more firsts I had but driving a Ferrari for the first time this morning, was one of the best feelings of my life. When I started the car up and drove through that garage door, I had the biggest smile on my face. It reminded me of the very first time I tested a Formula 1 car, it was such an exciting and special moment, and here I am, almost twenty years later, feeling those emotions all over again.

“I already knew from the outside how passionate the Ferrari family is, from everyone in the team to the Tifosi! But to now witness it first-hand as a Ferrari driver has been awe-inspiring. That passion runs through their veins and you can’t help but be energised by it. I’m so grateful for the love I have felt from everyone in Maranello this week, we have a lot of work to do but I can’t wait to get started.”

“The first day back in the car is always a great feeling after the holidays,” added Leclerc. “It’s good to be back on track, to see that so many fans came out to watch us. Feeling all this excitement surrounding the team is very motivating. It was a good day, even though it was raining a little bit when I was driving.

“Of course it was nice to be able to see Lewis driving his first laps in a Ferrari, which was a special moment for the team and for him. Now I’m looking forward to being back in the car next week and to really start working hard for the coming season.”

“As is the case every year, the first time you go out on track is a bit like the first day back at school and quite an emotional feeling, especially today as it was Lewis’ first day as part of the team,” said Fred Vasseur.

“Welcoming a new driver is always an important moment. Maybe today was less special for Charles, but it was good to see him fit, relaxed and keen to go racing again.

“As for the technical side, Charles and Lewis did their laps in not the best weather, but they got back in the swing of things and immersed themselves in the track environment prior to the first proper test in a month’s time in Bahrain. It was also a warm-up for the team in the garage. That was the sole purpose of today.”

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