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LEWIS HAMILTON: FIRST FERRARI TEST AN “UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE”

LEWIS HAMILTON: FIRST FERRARI TEST AN “UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE”
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Faith Nyasuguta

Lewis Hamilton described his debut behind the wheel of a Ferrari Formula 1 car as “one of the best feelings of my life.” The seven-time world champion made his highly anticipated track debut with Ferrari on Wednesday at the Fiorano test track in Maranello, Italy, marking the start of an exciting chapter with his new team.

Hamilton completed 30 laps in front of an enthusiastic crowd of fans gathered at the nearby Giardini overpass. Despite a foggy and wet start to the day, the British driver was full of praise for the experience, calling it one of the most emotional moments of his illustrious career.

“I’ve been fortunate to experience many firsts in my career, my first test, first race, first podium, first win, and championship,” Hamilton said. “I wasn’t sure how many more firsts I’d have, but driving a Scuderia Ferrari car for the first time today was simply incredible. When I started the engine and rolled out of the garage, I couldn’t stop smiling. It took me back to the very first time I tested a Formula 1 car nearly 20 years ago. To feel that same excitement after all these years is something special.”

Lewis Hamilton /Courtesy/

The 38-year-old driver piloted a 2-year-old SF-23 car, adhering to Formula 1’s testing rules. Hamilton began his day at 9:16 a.m. local time with a single installation lap on wet tires. Donning a yellow helmet, a nod to his early racing days, Hamilton soon switched to slick tires for flying laps, practice starts, and system checks.

His family was present for the momentous occasion, including his father Anthony, mother Carmen, and stepmother Linda. They were joined in the garage by Piero Ferrari, the son of Ferrari founder Enzo Ferrari. After completing 89 kilometers on the track, Hamilton returned to the garage for a debrief with his new engineering team, led by his race engineer for 2025, Riccardo Adami.

Hamilton, clearly moved by the warm reception, took time to greet fans after the session. “I’ve always admired the passion of the Ferrari family ”the team, the Tifosi, everyone,” he shared. “To experience it firsthand as a Ferrari driver has been awe-inspiring. That energy and love run deep, and it’s contagious. I feel incredibly grateful for the warm welcome and can’t wait to get to work with the team.”

Hamilton’s new teammate, Charles Leclerc, also participated in the day’s testing, completing 14 laps. Team principal Fred Vasseur expressed satisfaction with the day’s proceedings, despite the challenging weather.

Hamilton completed 30 laps in the SF-23 during Wednesday’s session /Formula One/

“Today was like the first day back at school, emotional and exciting,” Vasseur remarked. “For Lewis, it was an especially significant moment, being his first outing as part of the Ferrari family. While it may not have been as momentous for Charles, it was great to see both drivers back in action and preparing for the season ahead. Despite the limited running, the team achieved its objectives and got a valuable warmup ahead of the Bahrain test.”

Hamilton is expected to continue his preparations later this month at the Circuit de Catalunya, where he will complete another testing session in a two-year-old car. Ferrari has carefully managed his mileage, adhering to the 2025 rule limiting drivers to 1,000 kilometers per year in older models.

As Ferrari begins its journey with Hamilton, the excitement surrounding his partnership with the iconic Italian team continues to grow. With a shared goal of returning Ferrari to championship contention, Hamilton’s debut marks the start of what could be an unforgettable season for the Scuderia.

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Faith Nyasuguta

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