Lewis Hamilton begins "new era" at Ferrari as he starts first day at Maranello

Lewis Hamilton begins his new chapter with Ferrari, marking the start of a 'new era' at the iconic F1 team.

Lewis Hamilton has expressed his excitement and pride after officially starting his journey with Ferrari, calling his first day at the Maranello factory a “new era” for the legendary team.

The seven-time world champion signed with Ferrari in January 2024, ending a 12-year stint with Mercedes. However, due to contractual obligations, Hamilton was unable to begin work with his new team until this week.

At 40 years old, Hamilton’s long-held dream of racing for Ferrari has now become a reality. "There are some days that you know you’ll remember forever, and today, my first as a Ferrari driver, is one of those days," he posted on Instagram. "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."

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Lewis Hamilton (@lewishamilton)

Hamilton's first day in the role involved meeting key figures within the team, including team principal Frederic Vasseur and CEO Benedetto Vigna. Ferrari provided Hamilton with a comprehensive tour of the factory, including a visit to the Fiorano house and the pit garage, once overseen by the legendary Enzo Ferrari.

Hamilton also met the management team, including vice-chairman Piero Ferrari, as he familiarised himself with the team and the organisation.

Ferrari confirmed that Hamilton would be further immersed in the team’s operations with more technical meetings and briefings ahead of the 2025 season. The Briton is expected to drive a 2023 Ferrari F1 car later in the week at the Fiorano test track and again in Barcelona before the launch of Ferrari’s new car on 19 February.

 

 

 

 

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One of the major changes Hamilton will face is adapting to a car that does not use a Mercedes engine, a first in his 18-year F1 career. As a part of F1’s testing regulations, Hamilton will drive the 2023 car in the lead-up to the season, while also participating in simulator tests for the 2025 car.

Ferrari’s pre-season testing will take place in Bahrain from 26-28 February, where Hamilton will share track time with his team-mate Charles Leclerc ahead of the season opener in Australia on 14-16 March.

Ferrari’s team principal Vasseur acknowledged the challenge Hamilton faces, saying, "It is not easy, but he is coming with his own experience. I am not worried at all about this."

Hamilton's move to Ferrari is a monumental shift in F1, with fans eagerly awaiting the sight of the British driver in the iconic red livery. After a successful partnership with Mercedes, which saw him claim six individual titles, Hamilton now joins Ferrari in a bid to compete for the 2025 championship alongside Leclerc.

Earlier on Wednesday, Hamilton also took his first lap as a Ferrari driver. He also shared his official helmet for the 2025 season.

 

 

 

 

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Before heading to Bahrain for testing, Hamilton will be a part of the official F1 launch event at London’s O2 Arena on 18 February, followed by the unveiling of Ferrari’s new car the next day in Italy. The excitement around his switch to Ferrari has been building since the news broke ahead of the 2024 season, and the countdown to Hamilton’s debut for the Italian team has now begun in earnest.