Lewis Hamilton Set for Ferrari Debut with Private Test in Early 2025

Lewis Hamilton Set for Ferrari Debut with Private Test in Early 2025

Lewis Hamilton is gearing up for his highly anticipated debut with Ferrari, set to begin in 2025 after a celebrated career with Mercedes. Before officially driving Ferrari’s new 2025 car during pre-season testing in Bahrain in late February, Hamilton will get a preliminary taste of Ferrari machinery through a private test.

Rather than jumping straight into the latest model, Hamilton is expected to drive a Ferrari from 2022 in a Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) session, likely held at Ferrari’s Fiorano test track in Italy. This session will give him an initial feel for Ferrari’s setup and environment, offering valuable preparation before the competitive season kicks off.

Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari’s team principal, shared his confidence in Hamilton’s ability to quickly adapt, saying that the seven-time World Champion’s extensive experience should allow him to come up to speed with minimal adjustment time. “I’m not sure he needs tons of hours of acclimatisation,” Vasseur told Motorsport.com. “He is experienced enough to be quick on the first day, or at least very soon.”

Although Ferrari had originally considered putting Hamilton in one of its cars during the post-season test in Abu Dhabi, that option is no longer on the table. Instead, the team plans for a private test early next year to ease him into the new setting.

Hamilton’s move to Ferrari marks a pivotal shift in his career and a strategic partnership for Ferrari, which aims to challenge for the championship title with the experienced driver at the helm. Vasseur confirmed that Ferrari is already focusing on the 2025 season, aligning its test and development plans with Hamilton’s input, though he clarified that it’s separate from the race team’s current agenda.

Fans of both Hamilton and Ferrari are eager to see what this iconic collaboration could achieve, with both team and driver keen to turn this new chapter into a successful title bid.