Lewis Hamilton has realised a lifelong ambition by completing his first laps as a Ferrari driver. The British seven-times world champion, who turned 40 earlier this month, took to the Italian team’s private test circuit at Fiorano in foggy conditions early on Wednesday morning.
Hamilton is testing a 2023 Ferrari – the latest model he is allowed to use – and permitted to drive 1,000km (621 miles) under Formula One’s rules. Following his test at Fiorano, the former Mercedes driver is set to complete further miles at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya before three-day pre-season testing starts in Bahrain on 26 February.
Hamilton has enjoyed a whirlwind week at the Italian team’s Maranello headquarters after meeting up with his new colleagues following his blockbuster transfer from the Brackley-based team.
He posted a picture on his social media accounts dressed in red, an image that attracted 1.5 million likes inside an hour of it being uploaded to Instagram.
Hamilton, who is attempting to become the first driver to win eight world titles, said on Monday: “There are some days that you know you’ll remember forever and today, my first as a Ferrari driver, is one of those days.
“I’ve been lucky enough to have achieved things in my career I never thought possible but part of me has always held on to that dream of racing in red. I couldn’t be happier to realise that dream today.
“Today we start a new era in the history of this iconic team, and I can’t wait to see what story we will write together.”
Hamilton makes the move to Ferrari after 12 seasons at Mercedes – a transfer perceived to be the biggest in the sport’s history – and his first race for his new team will be in Melbourne on 16 March. He is due to take the wraps off his car at Ferrari’s season launch alongside his teammate Charles Leclerc on 19 February in Maranello, a day after the F1 season launch event at the O2 Arena.
Hamilton ended his two-and-a-half year winless streak at the British Grand Prix last July, but finished only seventh in the world championship, 214 points behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, following a disappointing final season with the team that carried him to six of his seven titles.
