Lewis Hamilton arrived in Maranello on Monday morning. Your entire Ferrari F1 workforce welcomed him with open arms, giving him a reception worthy of a Member of the British Empire. That is exactly the title that the Briton was awarded by Queen Elizabeth herself a number of years in the past. It’s no small honor. Sir Lewis is essentially the most profitable driver within the historical past of Method 1, an indisputable fact. His expertise has taken him to victory on each observe on the earth. Now, at 40 years outdated, it’s time to enter the realm of legends. To do that, there was just one choice: to drive for Ferrari.
The Englishman left behind a “protected spot” the place he might have completed his profession comfortably. He had nothing extra to show. As a substitute, pushed by a predatory intuition and childhood desires, the British driver wished to face the ultimate problem of his profession. Successful with Ferrari has a distinct taste. If, as all supporters of the Prancing Horse count on, he manages to convey the championship again to Maranello, he’ll turn out to be a dwelling legend. The primary strategy happened in latest days: a go to to the manufacturing unit, simulator periods, and a shakedown on the observe with the 2023 season automobile.
Lewis Hamilton was capable of check the Brembo brakes, on which he expressed a really optimistic opinion. Due to Italian know-how, the purpose is to unravel the qualifying issues he confronted final season, when, with Mercedes, he used Carbon Industries brakes throughout braking. There was additionally the primary shut encounter with the PU 066/12. A sort of lesson to discover ways to greatest use the Italian energy unit. Reaching the proper “handbook reminiscence” to totally exploit the ability unit with its numerous controls is not going to be straightforward. He’s additionally engaged on this within the simulator.
The Ferrari SF-23 single-seater wasn’t an awesome automobile. Undoubtedly the weakest one produced within the wing automobile period. Nevertheless, driving it was improbable for Lewis Hamilton. Clearly excited, the Briton accomplished a decreased work program. About thirty laps the place he turned conversant in the varied controls and, on the similar time, began to get to know the Maranello workforce’s working methodology. Though it’s at all times essential to get on observe, subsequent week on the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, as we had beforehand anticipated, Lewis Hamilton will face a considerably extra demanding check.
He’ll have extra time to concentrate on the work to be achieved. Charles Leclerc can even be current with him. One other fascinating element issues the check organized by Pirelli for the 2026 tires. The Worldwide Federation is effectively conscious of how sophisticated it’s for the Italian tire producer to work on the brand new era of tires and not using a automobile regulated by the upcoming algorithm. That’s why they’ll enable groups to make use of a modified 2024 automobile for this event. The seven-time F1 world champion will thus drive the Ferrari SF-24 in February.
That is the automobile that allowed Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz to struggle for the constructors’ title till the final Method 1 Grand Prix on the 5.281-kilometre Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. A very good automobile, the idea for the automobile that can be unveiled on January nineteenth by way of broadcast, after which seen on observe at Fiorano for the primary pre-season run. The anticipation is sort of excessive, there’s no denying it, as a result of testing the SF-24 will present the primary essential suggestions for Lewis Hamilton, looking forward to the 2025 Method 1 championship. In the meantime, nevertheless, the check earlier automobile programme will begin subsequent Tuesday on the Catalan observe, the place Lewis Hamilton’s chemistry with the purple automobile will proceed to develop.
— see video above —
Purchase official Ferrari F1 merchandise!
Let different Scuderia Followers find out about us
