‘Best feeling’ as Lewis Hamilton drives first laps for Ferrari

MARANELLO – Lewis Hamilton drove a Ferrari Formula One car for the first time on Jan 22 after the seven-time world champion took to the track at the team’s test circuit and admitted it was “one of the best feelings” of his life.

The Briton shocked the paddock in February 2024 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.

“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,” said Hamilton.

“But driving a Ferrari car for the first time this morning was one of the best feelings of my life.”

Team boss Frederic Vasseur added: “As is the case every year, the first time you go out on track is a bit like the first day back at school and quite an emotional feeling, especially today as it was Lewis’ first day as part of the team.”

Groups of Ferrari’s passionate fans, described as “awe-inspiring” by Hamilton, watched on in the wet weather from a bridge overlooking the track as the 40-year-old zipped round.

Fans are hoping he can end an 18-year wait for a drivers’ F1 title, which has been dominated by Mercedes and Red Bull. Hamilton joins a Ferrari team, who were narrowly beaten to the constructors’ title by McLaren last season.

He won just two grands prix – his British GP victory in July ending a 2½-year winless streak – and finished seventh in the 2024 world championship, a mammoth 214 points behind title winner Max Verstappen.

It was his worst season in terms of championship position.

“When I started the car up and drove through that garage door, I had the biggest smile on my face,” added Hamilton.

“It reminded me of the very first time I tested a Formula One car, it was such an exciting and special moment. Here I am, almost 20 years later, feeling those emotions all over again.”

He is also reuniting with his former trainer Angela Cullen as this new chapter begins.

They had worked together for seven years, starting ahead of the 2016 season, until 2023. The New Zealander will be part of his performance team, overseen by Marc Hyne.

Hamilton previously said of Cullen in 2020: “People for sure won’t understand it, naturally, because they see it from a distance, but she has been one of the greatest things that’s happened to me in my life.

“I’ve been fortunate to work with a lot of people... and she’s the single hardest-working woman that I get to be around.

“She’s focused, selfless, and she makes my weekends peaceful. Every day I wake up, whatever time it is, she’s just positive – never a single day has she been negative, so that’s very, very important.

“I think it’s important in life to put positive people around you. You can’t be going around with deadweights, you can’t be going around with people who don’t inspire you to be better and lift you up when you’re down. You need to be around people who can do that for you, and she’s one of them.”

Hamilton is due to unveil his 2025 car at Ferrari’s season launch alongside teammate Charles Leclerc on Feb 19 at Maranello, with testing in Bahrain the following week.

Leclerc was also in action on Jan 22, albeit on a different programme to Hamilton, which saw him complete 14 laps.

The 27-year-old said: “The first day back in the car is always a great feeling after the holidays. It’s good to be back on track, to see that so many fans came out to watch us.

“Feeling all this excitement surrounding the team is very motivating. It was a good day, even though it was raining a little bit when I was driving.” AFP