Source – Formula1.com
Lewis Hamilton is expected to make his first Ferrari on-track appearance in one of the team’s former Formula 1 vehicles after completing his transfer from Mercedes over the winter break, according to Frederic Vasseur.
The motorsport world was set alight earlier this year with the announcement that seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton would be joining Ferrari in 2025, leaving Mercedes after an illustrious 12-year tenure. This seismic shift in the F1 landscape sees Hamilton replace Carlos Sainz to form a formidable pairing with Charles Leclerc. As the sport approaches its 75th anniversary, anticipation is building for one of the most high-profile moves in its storied history.
Hamilton has just three races left in his Mercedes career, a partnership that began in 2013 and yielded six of his seven world titles. The transition from the Silver Arrows to the iconic red of the Scuderia has been the talk of the paddock, but one question looms large—when will Hamilton first get behind the wheel of a Ferrari?
Ferrari has confirmed a spectacular launch event at London’s O2 Arena on February 18, 2025, marking the start of the new campaign and celebrating F1’s milestone anniversary. Following this grand unveiling, Hamilton will officially join his new team in Bahrain for pre-season testing from February 26 to 28. However, Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur has revealed that plans are in motion to give Hamilton an earlier taste of Ferrari machinery, using the sport’s “Testing of Previous Cars” (TPC) regulations.
Under these rules, teams can conduct limited testing sessions with cars at least two years old. For Hamilton, this means a potential outing in Ferrari’s 2022 challenger, the first generation of cars designed under F1’s latest ground-effect regulations. Vasseur, who shares a strong professional history with Hamilton from their successful GP2 campaign in 2006, expressed confidence that the seasoned driver would require minimal adjustment time.
“I’m not sure he needs tons of hours of acclimatization,” Vasseur shared in an interview. “He’s experienced enough to be quick from the first day—or very soon after. We’ll have one or two TPC days, plus the Bahrain test, and that will be enough.”
These TPC days are likely to serve as more than just acclimatization for Hamilton; they will also provide Ferrari engineers with valuable feedback on car characteristics from one of the most accomplished drivers in the sport’s history. As Ferrari crafts its path forward, Hamilton’s expertise could prove pivotal in shaping the 2025 car.
Vasseur, however, remains clear about maintaining focus on the present. While part of Ferrari’s organization is already preparing for Hamilton’s arrival, including test plans and communication strategies, the race team remains committed to their ongoing battle in the 2024 season. Currently, Ferrari is locked in a heated fight with McLaren, striving to claim their first constructors’ title since 2008.
“For sure, we have part of the team already focusing on 2025—on the test plan, on the communication, and so on, with Lewis being part of this,” Vasseur explained. “But not the race team. It’s not on my mind right now.”
The buzz around Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari extends beyond the technical and strategic implications. It signifies a historic union between the most successful driver of the modern era and the sport’s most legendary team. Fans and pundits alike are eager to see how Hamilton will adapt to Ferrari’s unique environment and how his partnership with Charles Leclerc will unfold on and off the track.
As Hamilton prepares to don Ferrari red, his arrival marks not just the end of an era with Mercedes but the beginning of a chapter filled with potential, prestige, and promise. With Vasseur at the helm, the Scuderia is poised to make a bold statement in the 2025 season—and Hamilton, with his unparalleled talent and experience, is ready to lead the charge.
