Lewis Hamilton is set to embark on a new chapter in his F1 career with Ferrari in 2025, after ending his long-standing tenure with Mercedes. Ahead of his official debut, Hamilton will participate in a private test session early next year using an older Ferrari car, likely at the Fiorano circuit. This private session is planned to help Hamilton acclimate to the team before the official pre-season testing kicks off in Bahrain in late February.
Ferrari originally hoped to get Hamilton behind the wheel during the post-season Abu Dhabi test in December 2024, but that plan has been ruled out. Instead, Ferrari’s Team Principal, Frédéric Vasseur, emphasized that Hamilton’s vast experience means he won’t require extensive preparation to get up to speed. According to Vasseur, Hamilton will have one or two Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) days, plus the Bahrain pre-season test, which he believes will be sufficient for the seven-time world champion.
The private test will see Hamilton driving Ferrari’s 2022 car, as teams are allowed to run cars that are at least two years old outside official test and race weekend sessions. This early test is part of Ferrari’s strategy to integrate Hamilton into the team as they gear up for a title challenge in 2025.
Ferrari is already planning for next year, with part of their team focused on communication, testing plans, and preparing Hamilton for a seamless transition. However, Vasseur clarified that Hamilton’s integration won’t involve the current race team yet, as they remain focused on the ongoing 2024 season.
