Lewis Hamilton arrived in Maranello on Monday morning. Your entire Ferrari F1 staff welcomed him with open arms, giving him a reception worthy of a Member of the British Empire. That is exactly the title that the Briton was awarded by Queen Elizabeth herself a number of years in the past. It’s no small honor. Sir Lewis is essentially the most profitable driver within the historical past of Method 1, an indisputable fact. His expertise has taken him to victory on each observe on the planet. Now, at 40 years previous, it’s time to enter the realm of legends. To do that, there was just one possibility: to drive for Ferrari.
The Englishman left behind a “secure spot” the place he might have completed his profession comfortably. He had nothing extra to show. As an alternative, pushed by a predatory intuition and childhood desires, the British driver wished to face the ultimate problem of his profession. Profitable with Ferrari has a distinct taste. If, as all supporters of the Prancing Horse anticipate, he manages to carry the championship again to Maranello, he’ll develop into a dwelling legend. The primary strategy passed off in current days: a go to to the manufacturing unit, simulator periods, and a shakedown on the observe with the 2023 season automotive.
Lewis Hamilton was capable of take a look at the Brembo brakes, on which he expressed a really optimistic opinion. Because of Italian know-how, the aim is to unravel the qualifying issues he confronted final season, when, with Mercedes, he used Carbon Industries brakes throughout braking. There was additionally the primary shut encounter with the PU 066/12. A type of lesson to learn to finest use the Italian energy unit. Attaining the right “guide reminiscence” to completely exploit the ability unit with its varied controls won’t be simple. He’s additionally engaged on this within the simulator.
The Ferrari SF-23 single-seater wasn’t a fantastic automotive. Undoubtedly the weakest one produced within the wing automotive period. Nonetheless, driving it was improbable for Lewis Hamilton. Clearly excited, the Briton accomplished a decreased work program. About thirty laps the place he grew to become accustomed to the varied controls and, on the identical time, began to get to know the Maranello staff’s working methodology. Though it’s at all times necessary to get on observe, subsequent week on the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, as we had beforehand anticipated, Lewis Hamilton will face a considerably extra demanding take a look at.
He’ll have extra time to deal with the work to be executed. Charles Leclerc can even be current with him. One other attention-grabbing element considerations the take a look at organized by Pirelli for the 2026 tires. The Worldwide Federation is properly conscious of how difficult it’s for the Italian tire producer to work on the brand new era of tires with out a automotive regulated by the upcoming algorithm. That’s why they’ll enable groups to make use of a modified 2024 automotive for this event. The seven-time F1 world champion will thus drive the Ferrari SF-24 in February.
That is the automotive that allowed Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz to combat for the constructors’ title till the final Method 1 Grand Prix on the 5.281-kilometre Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. A extremely good automotive, the idea for the automotive that shall be unveiled on January nineteenth through broadcast, after which seen on observe at Fiorano for the primary pre-season run. The anticipation is sort of excessive, there’s no denying it, as a result of testing the SF-24 will present the primary necessary suggestions for Lewis Hamilton, looking forward to the 2025 Method 1 championship. In the meantime, nonetheless, the take a look at earlier automotive programme will begin subsequent Tuesday on the Catalan observe, the place Lewis Hamilton’s chemistry with the pink automotive will proceed to develop.
— see video above —
Purchase official Ferrari F1 merchandise!
Let different Scuderia Followers learn about us
