- Lewis Hamilton has plenty to acclimatise himself with after joining Ferrari
- Hamilton departed Mercedes, where he won six world titles, at the end of 2024
- His replacement Kimi Antonelli passed his driving test weeks before his F1 debut
Lewis Hamilton’s preparations for his first season in Formula One are continuing apace with the seven-time world champion testing with Ferrari this week at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
Hamilton brought his time with Mercedes – which yielded six world titles – to a close at the end of 2024, and finally joined Ferrari having agreed a shock deal during the campaign.
But after his first taste with the most famous Formula One team of all at their test track Fiorano, by their base at Maranello, Hamilton’s preparations continued on Tuesday.
After such a long, successful stint with one side, the transition to a completely new operation is one that brings perhaps greater difficulty than many might anticipate.
It is thought the legendary Italian outfit are doing everything within their powers to get their new star up to speed alongside his new team-mate Charles Leclerc.
Both drivers spent Tuesday in a 2023 Ferrari at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, with the Brit taking over for the second half of the day at the home of the Spanish Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton’s preparations for his first season with Ferrari continued in Barcelona on Tuesday
Hamilton (pictured at Fiorano) spent half the day in a 2023 Ferrari at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
Hamilton and his new team-mate Charles Leclerc will have another two days in Barcelona
Providing the weather plays into their hands, Ferrari will spend the next two days ramping up their preparations for the coming season.
Hamilton will be looking to familiarise himself with his new set up, hoping to acclimatise as quickly as possible to a brand new car and cockpit configuration.
The 2025 campaign will also be the first time Hamilton competes in a Ferrari-powered car, which again brings new changes he must prepare himself for.
Furthermore, the British racing legend must use these opportunities to build his relationship with new race engineer Riccardo Adami, as well as Ferrari as a team.
Drivers are capped at a maximum of 1000km of testing in cars previously used in Grands Prix, though it is reported he had around 800km of that quote remaining before arriving at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
Hamilton and Leclerc will offer a first look at the new Ferrari for 2025 in February, when they run the car at Fiorano.
Meanwhile, back at Mercedes, Hamilton’s replacement Kimi Antonelli has now passed his driving test, just a few weeks out from his Formula One debut with the Silver Arrows.
