Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari Debut Sparks Italian Frenzy

MARANELLO, Italy — Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion, is set to make his highly anticipated debut in a Ferrari car later this month, marking a seismic shift in his storied career. The British driver, who spent 12 years with Mercedes, will take to Ferrari’s Fiorano test track in a move that has captivated fans and media alike.

Hamilton, 40, signed a multi-year contract with Ferrari for the 2025 season, ending his long-standing partnership with Mercedes. His first test with Ferrari is scheduled for the week of January 20, though the exact date remains weather-dependent. The event is expected to draw massive crowds, with Italian journalist Roberto Chinchero predicting “Hamilton mania” in Maranello. “I cannot imagine the number of people that will be around the track,” Chinchero said on the James Allen on F1 podcast. “The streets will be filled with people.”

The move to Ferrari has reignited speculation about Hamilton’s pursuit of an eighth World Championship title, which would surpass Michael Schumacher‘s record of seven. However, the road to that achievement begins with his first outing in a Ferrari car. Hamilton is likely to drive either the F1-75 or the SF-23 during his initial test, followed by further runs at the Circuit de Catalunya in late January.

Emerson Fittipaldi, a two-time F1 World Champion, believes Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari will captivate Italy. “The whole [of] Italy is going to stop on Sunday to watch Lewis drive a Ferrari,” Fittipaldi told talkSPORT’s On Track podcast. “Every driver has a dream to drive for Ferrari, and Lewis is living that dream.”

Hamilton’s transition to Ferrari comes after a challenging final three years with Mercedes, during which he struggled with the team’s zero-pod car design. Ferrari’s technical team, led by Chassis Technical Director Enrico Sacco, is working to optimize the 2025 car, codenamed Project 677, to suit Hamilton’s driving style. Key changes include reverting to pull-rod front suspension, a setup last used by Ferrari in 2015.

Despite his recent qualifying struggles, Hamilton remains a formidable force in race conditions, as demonstrated by his charge from 10th to second at the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix. However, his new teammate, Charles Leclerc, has consistently outperformed him in qualifying over the past three seasons, securing 17 pole positions compared to Hamilton’s one. The pairing of Hamilton and Leclerc promises to make Ferrari a formidable contender in the 2025 season.

As Hamilton prepares for his Ferrari debut, the eyes of the motorsport world are firmly fixed on Maranello. For the Tifosi, Ferrari’s passionate fanbase, the arrival of one of F1’s greatest drivers represents a new chapter in the team’s storied history.