Lewis Hamilton Takes His First Laps in...

Lewis Hamilton Takes His First Laps in…read more

Lewis Hamilton has officially taken to the track for the first time in Ferrari colors, driving the team’s SF-25 for the 2025 Formula 1 season. This momentous occasion took place at the Fiorano circuit on Wednesday afternoon, following Ferrari’s official unveiling of their new car in London.

Hamilton’s new teammate, Charles Leclerc, was the first to drive the SF-25 in the morning session, completing approximately 30 laps. The Monegasque driver greeted fans gathered around the circuit after his run before handing over the car to Hamilton. The seven-time World Champion then made his first appearance in the SF-25 at around 12:47 local time.

As Hamilton emerged from the garage, he was met with cheers and applause from hundreds of passionate Ferrari fans, known as the Tifosi. Acknowledging their support, Hamilton raised an arm from the cockpit as he set out on his first laps in his new machine.

Ferrari’s Shakedown Run

The Fiorano test served as a crucial shakedown for Ferrari’s 2025 challenger. Under F1 regulations, teams are allowed only 100 kilometers of running per driver during such filming days. This limited mileage ensures teams can assess fundamental aspects of the car without gaining a competitive advantage before official pre-season testing.

Ferrari’s SF-25 will undergo its true performance evaluations at the upcoming three-day pre-season test in Bahrain next week. Until then, these short runs provide both Hamilton and Leclerc with an opportunity to familiarize themselves with their new car and assess basic functionality.

Hamilton’s Ferrari Journey So Far

While this was Hamilton’s first run in Ferrari’s 2025 car, it was not his first on-track appearance with the team. Last month, he completed a test at Fiorano in Ferrari’s 2023 car as part of an officially sanctioned Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) session.

Hamilton and Leclerc also took part in further TPC tests in Barcelona, where they worked with Pirelli on tire testing. However, Hamilton’s adaptation to Ferrari machinery suffered a setback on January 29, when he crashed heavily in the final sector of the Spanish circuit.

The incident caused significant damage to the car, requiring extensive repairs. As a result, Leclerc was unable to complete his planned laps that day. Notably, no images or footage of Hamilton’s accident were released, and Ferrari chose not to publicly address the crash.

Speculation arose regarding the cause of Hamilton’s off-track moment, with some suggesting a bump on the circuit played a role, while others pointed to his lack of experience with Ferrari’s unique engine characteristics.