Hamilton drives first laps as a Ferrari driver
Lewis Hamilton drove a Ferrari Formula One car for the first time on Wednesday after the seven-time world champion took to the track at the team's test circuit in front of delighted fans.
The 40-year-old Briton shocked the paddock last February when he announced after 12 highly successful years with Mercedes, he was departing for the iconic Italian team.
On a foggy morning at the Fiorano test track near Ferrari's Maranello base in northern Italy, Hamilton shot out in a test car wearing the classic red overalls and a distinctive yellow helmet.
Groups of Ferrari's passionate fans watched on in the wet weather from a bridge overlooking the track as Hamilton zipped round it.
Stepping into a new era 👊
— Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) January 22, 2025
Lewis Hamilton takes his first lap in a Ferrari! pic.twitter.com/LCOws2haSn
Fans are hoping Hamilton can end an 18-year wait for a drivers' F1 title which has been dominated by Mercedes and Red Bull.
Hamilton won just two Grands Prix, his British GP victory in July ending a two-and-a-half year winless streak, and finished seventh in the 2024 world championship, a mammoth 214 points behind title-winner Max Verstappen.
Hamilton is due to unveil his 2025 car at Ferrari's season launch alongside teammate Charles Leclerc on February 19 at Maranello, with testing in Bahrain the following week.
Advertisement