The latest updates reveal that Lewis Hamilton’s first Ferrari F1 test drive is scheduled for early 2025 and he will not participate in the post-season testing at Abu Dhabi this December.
This comes as the iconic seven-time F1 world champion is poised to make a significant transition in his illustrious racing career as he prepares to join the Scuderia for the 2025 season.
After an impressive 12-year stint with Mercedes during which he secured six of his championships, Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari has generated considerable excitement and speculation within the motorsport community.
With only three races left in the current season, speculation over Hamilton’s first Ferrari F1 test drive has generated considerable debate as he embarks on starting a new chapter in quest for championship glory.
However, the British driver will not have the opportunity to test a Ferrari during the post-season testing at Abu Dhabi this December, as he has commitments with Mercedes’ sponsor Petronas immediately following the season finale on December 8.
This scheduling conflict means that Lewis Hamilton will have to wait until early next year to don the iconic red of Ferrari.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has now confirmed that Hamilton’s first Ferrari F1 test drive will take place during one or two “Testing of Previous Cars” (TPC) days at the Fiorano Circuit, located near the team’s headquarters in Maranello, Italy.
The 39-year old will run Ferrari’s 2022 model, the F1-75, which is permitted under FIA regulations that allow teams to conduct private tests with cars built within the last three years.
Fred Vasseur expressed confidence in Lewis Hamilton’s ability to adapt quickly to the new car, stating that he does not anticipate the seasoned driver requiring extensive acclimatization time.
“I’m not sure that he needs tons of hours of acclimatisation,” Vasseur told Autosport. “He is experienced enough to be quick on the first day, or at least very soon. We’ll have one or two TPC days, plus the test in Bahrain, and that will be enough.”
Hamilton’s first Ferrari F1 test at Fiorano will provide him with an invaluable opportunity to understand Ferrari’s car dynamics and performance characteristics before entering official pre-season testing in Bahrain scheduled for late February 2025.
This approach allows Lewis Hamilton acclimatize to the team’s unique setup and philosophy without the immediate pressures of competitive racing as well as public scrutiny.
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Fiorano circuit offers a controlled environment ideal for the initial testing phase. The private facility enables Ferrari to conduct shakedown tests without external pressures or distractions commonly associated with public testing sessions.
For a driver like Hamilton, who has spent over a decade adapting to Mercedes’ engineering and race strategies, this transition period is crucial for establishing comfort and confidence within Ferrari’s framework.
As preparations for the 2025 season begin, Ferrari is already focusing on its testing plans and communication strategies with Lewis Hamilton involved in these discussions. However, Vasseur clarified that these preparations do not yet extend to race team operations.
“For sure we have part of the team already focusing on ’25, on the test plan, on the communication and so, with Lewis being part of this,” he said. “But not on the race team and it’s not on my mind.”
The team’s current priority remains its pursuit of points in the constructors’ championship, where they are currently trailing McLaren by 36 points ahead of their next race in Las Vegas.
