Ferrari Marks Key SF-25 Milestone as Lewis Hamilton’s…. read more
Seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton is preparing for his highly anticipated debut season with Ferrari after making the switch from Mercedes during the winter break. The British driver, who signed a multi-year contract with the Italian team, has been working closely with Ferrari in recent weeks to integrate himself into his new surroundings.
One of the key moments in Ferrari’s preparations for the 2025 season took place recently when the team successfully fired up the SF-25, their latest challenger for the upcoming campaign. This marks an important step in the development of the car, which Hamilton will be driving alongside his new teammate, Charles Leclerc.
Hamilton has been actively involved in pre-season preparations, spending significant time at Ferrari’s headquarters in Maranello. His first official visit to the team’s factory took place last month, where he familiarized himself with the facilities and met the key personnel who will support his transition into the team. Since then, he has participated in a series of private testing sessions to get up to speed with Ferrari’s machinery and operations.
The 40-year-old driver had his first experience behind the wheel of a Ferrari F1 car at the team’s Fiorano test track, where he completed initial laps to get accustomed to the handling and characteristics of the car. Following this, Ferrari shifted its pre-season testing efforts to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, the venue for the Spanish Grand Prix, where Hamilton continued his adaptation to his new team’s setup.
However, Hamilton’s time on track in Barcelona was not without incident. On the second day of running, he was involved in a crash while driving Ferrari’s 2023 car, bringing his session to an early conclusion. The extent of the damage sustained in the incident was significant enough to prevent his teammate, Charles Leclerc, from taking to the track later that afternoon as Ferrari focused on repairing the car.
Despite the setback, both Ferrari drivers returned to action in Spain this week, participating in a Pirelli tire test. This session was conducted to aid the development of new tire specifications that will be introduced for the 2026 Formula 1 season. Such tests are crucial for teams and drivers, as they provide valuable insight into how the tires will perform in different conditions.
Looking ahead, Hamilton’s next scheduled track appearance is set for February 19, which will coincide with the official launch of Ferrari’s 2025 F1 car, the SF-25. Previously known by its internal codename, Project 677, the SF-25 represents Ferrari’s latest effort to compete at the highest level in Formula 1. The team hopes that the new car will provide both Hamilton and Leclerc with the performance needed to challenge for victories in the upcoming season.
As excitement builds around Hamilton’s debut with Ferrari, the successful fire-up of the SF-25 marks another significant milestone in the team’s preparations for the 2025 season. Fans and analysts alike are eager to see how Hamilton will adapt to his new environment and whether Ferrari can deliver a car capable of contending for the championship.
