Lewis Hamilton relishes Ferrari debut: 'One of the best feelings of my life'

Usually carried out in the shadows, without anyone really taking an interest in them, the TPC (Testing of Previous Car) is not the sexiest part of a team's driving schedule. F1When it dusts off its old single-seaters, aged at least two years, to get them back on the track, it is often to offer a bit of driving to a young wolf in the making.

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But at Ferrari, this test was highly anticipated: it was the opportunity to finally see Lewis Hamilton drive one of the racing cars Maranello, almost a year after its arrival was made official on February 1st. The wait was interminable, but it was worth it for the tifosi who came to brave the gloomy conditions to gather on the bridge of Via Giardini, which overlooks the Fiorano test circuit.

Stepping into a new era 👊

Lewis Hamilton takes his first lap in a Ferrari! pic.twitter.com/LCOws2haSn

— Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) January 22, 2025

A short first ride due to the conditions

It was 9:16am when the front wing of the SF-23 driven by the Briton came out of the garage to take to the track for the first time with the man in the No. 44 behind the wheel. Hamilton's session lasted just 30 short laps, or 89 kilometres, due to the limits imposed on each team during the TPC and poor weather. The seven-time world champion took the opportunity to learn the procedures and perfect his relationship with Riccardo Adami, his new race engineer. After the lunch break, Charles Leclerc in turn, began his season with 14 short laps at the wheel of the SF-23, but the Monegasque's return was only a side event for the tifosi, who came to cheer on their new king.

“I have been fortunate to experience many firsts in my career, from the first test to the first race, to the podium, to the victory and the championship.” Lewis Hamilton lists. “Driving a Ferrari for the first time this morning was one of the best feelings of my life. When I started the car and walked out the garage door, I had a big 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 again.” he rewinds.

“I already knew from the outside how passionate the Ferrari family is, from everyone in the team to the Tifosi! But to witness it first-hand as a Ferrari driver was impressive. That passion runs through their veins and you can’t help but be energized by it. I’m so grateful for the love I’ve felt from everyone in Maranello this week, we have a lot of work to do but I can’t wait to get started.” The next time Lewis Hamilton will be behind the wheel of a Ferrari, it will be during the pre-season tests in Bahrain (February 26-28) in front of the cameras of the world, which will, of course, be a little more focused on him than on the others. But forever, the tifosi present at Fiorano this Wednesday morning at 9:16 will keep deep in their hearts the imperishable memory of having witnessed with their own eyes the first laps of Lewis Hamilton in a Ferrari.

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