- Fans gathered outside the Fiorano Circuit to watch the new star on the track
- Lewis Hamilton blasted around the circuit in a Ferrari Formula One SF-23
- The Brit had his first day on Monday and also tried out the simulator then
Lewis Hamilton made his first outing for Ferrari in a test drive at their private Fiorano Circuit on Wednesday morning.
The seven-time world champion took a Ferrari Formula One SF-23 for a spin around the track in northern Italy.
A throng of fans gathered outside the track to catch a glimpse of their new speedster in action as he embarks on his £50million-per-year deal.
Hamilton arrived for his first day at the Scuderia’s Maranello factory on Monday and met his new colleagues including his new race engineer Riccardo Adami.
He also had his official unveiling picture with the Prancing Horse, posing outside founder Enzo Ferrari’s trackside office.
Hamilton wore a dark suit and an overcoat worn like a cape for the long-prepared image in front of a Ferrari F40.
Lewis Hamilton made his first outing in a Ferrari F1 car on Wednesday morning in Italy
The Brit took the Scuderdia’s SF-23 model for a blast around the Fiorano Circuit
Hamilton had his official portrait taken for Ferrari as he arrived at Maranello on Monday
Fans gathered outside the circuit to catch a glimpse of the new Ferrari star on Wednesday
On that day, Hamilton was also given a tour of the factory by team principal Fred Vasseur and was greeted by Ferrari president John Elkann and vice-chairman son of Enzo, Piero Ferrari.
The Brit is gearing up for his first season at Ferrari after leaving behind Mercedes following 12 trophy-laden seasons.
He opened up on how much is meant to finally be driving for Ferrari in an Instagram post.
‘There are some days that you know you’ll remember forever and today, my first as a Ferrari driver, is one of those,’ he wrote.
‘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.
‘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.’
His test drive was in the 2023 model of Ferrari’s F1 development – the latest model allowed under the TCP (testing of previous cars) rule that permits a driver 1,000km (620 miles) of in-house practice.
The 40-year-old is expected to step up his on-track acclimatisation programme in Barcelona at the end of the month.
Hamilton said hello to Ferrari staff on his first day on Monday and completed time on the simulator
The Brit will debut as Charles Leclerc’s team-mate at the Australian Grand Prix on March 16
He will also take part in the official F1-wide test in Bahrain next month, in the new 2025 car, before making his race debut as Charles Leclerc’s team-mate at the Australian Grand Prix on March 16.
Both Hamilton and Ferrari have points to prove. Hamilton has not won a Drivers’ Championship since 2020 and last year finished seventh with Mercedes, his lowest placement in the table ever.
Meanwhile, Ferrari have not won a Constructors’ Championship since 2008 but they have been building in recent seasons and came second last time out behind Red Bull.
The new season will break up a partnership between Leclerc and Carlos Sainz which had been established for four years.
To make way for Hamilton, Sainz’s deal was not renewed and he has moved on to Williams.
