Lewis Hamilton Makes Ferrari Debut, Drives SF-23 at Fiorano Test Track

Lewis Hamilton Makes Ferrari Debut, Drives SF-23 at Fiorano Test Track

Lewis Hamilton, Formula One’s most successful driver, took his first laps in a Ferrari racing car on Wednesday, marking the start of his new chapter with the Italian team for the 2025 season. The 40-year-old British driver, now sporting Ferrari's iconic red, piloted a 2023-spec Ferrari SF-23 at the Fiorano test track, complete with his signature racing number 44 and a fresh yellow helmet design featuring the Prancing Horse logo.

Hamilton began his debut lap at 9:16 a.m. local time under light fog, waving to a crowd of approximately 1,000 dedicated fans who braved cold and wet conditions to catch a glimpse of the historic moment. He expressed his excitement, calling the move to Ferrari a lifelong dream come true. "Racing in red has always been part of my dream. To finally make it a reality today is something I couldn’t be happier about," Hamilton remarked earlier in the week at Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters.

After a 12-year tenure with Mercedes, where he secured six of his seven world championships, Hamilton joined Ferrari with hopes of ending the team’s title drought that dates back to 2007. He will partner with Charles Leclerc in the upcoming season, as Ferrari aims to reclaim its dominance in the sport.

While F1 regulations limit testing of current-specification cars, Hamilton’s run in the SF-23 was permissible under looser rules governing older models. Official preseason testing for the new season's cars will commence in Bahrain from February 26 to 28, with the Australian Grand Prix scheduled to kick off the 2025 season from March 14 to 16.

Hamilton's presence at Ferrari not only brings experience and star power but also reignites hopes for a driver’s championship as he embarks on this new chapter of his illustrious career.