It’s an historic day in the long history of F1 as seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton has taken to the Fiorano circuit in the SF-23. The 105-time race winner has gotten behind the wheel of a Ferrari for the first time.
At the age of 40, Hamilton is looking to win an eighth Drivers’ Championship in 2025. If he managed to achieve it, it would be the third different team he won a title at.
His first post on Instagram about his new team has seen over 5 million likes, and that is a record for an F1 post on social media. It shows the power and popularity of this driver and team combination. Hamilton is the winningest driver in F1 history, with Ferrari the same on the Constructors’ side.
The Fiorano running via TPC allows Lewis Hamilton to get up to speed with his new Ferrari F1 team as he familiarises himself with the engineers and mechanics he will be working with come the 2025 season. It all starts at Albert Park, Melbourne on March 16th.
More TPC running will take place in Barcelona. His first run in the 2025 car will happen in Bahrain during pre-season testing.
On Tuesday, it was confirmed that his personal trainer Angela Cullen would be returning. The duo had an extremely successful partnership working together at Mercedes. Cullen had been in the United States helping IndyCar driver Marcus Armstrong in 2024.
After completing his running at Fiorano on Wednesday, Hamilton discussed his first day behind a Ferrari F1 car. He admitted it was an emotional occasion and one of the most special moments of his career.
Lewis Hamilton
“I’ve been lucky enough to have many firsts in my career, 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 Scuderia Ferrari HP car 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 firsthand 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.”
