Lewis Hamilton Ferrari test issues come to light after close…read more
Lewis Hamilton’s first test with Ferrari this week didn’t go entirely smoothly due to issues with the car’s pedals, which caused him some discomfort and nearly led to an embarrassing mistake at the Fiorano test track.
Hamilton, who recently made a high-profile switch from Mercedes to Ferrari for the 2025 Formula 1 season, visited Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters and then took part in his debut on-track session with the team. The test took place at Ferrari’s Fiorano circuit, where Hamilton completed 30 laps (around 89 kilometers) in the team’s 2023 car. His family attended the test, and after the session, Hamilton spent time greeting the Tifosi, Ferrari’s passionate fan base, who had gathered to witness the occasion.
His new teammate, Charles Leclerc, also participated in the test, taking over the car for the afternoon session, where conditions were wet. He managed 14 laps in the SF-23. However, while details on lap times were kept private due to the nature of the test (classified as a Testing of Previous Car, or TPC), a report from Motorsport.com has revealed that Hamilton’s session wasn’t without its issues.
The biggest problem appeared to be with the car’s pedals. Hamilton reportedly tried various adjustments throughout the test, but he was unable to find a comfortable setup. As a result, he made a couple of mistakes, including locking up his brakes at both the first corner and the hairpin, almost running off the track into the gravel. Despite these struggles, Ferrari is already working on a quick fix and expects to have the issue resolved ahead of their next private test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, which is scheduled for next week.
Despite the pedal issues, Hamilton’s adjustment to other aspects of the Ferrari car seemed to go more smoothly. According to reports, he adapted quickly to the Ferrari steering wheel, which was a concern due to his long tenure at Mercedes. However, Hamilton only requested a few modifications, indicating he was open to adapting to the new controls rather than sticking with the configurations he had become used to at Mercedes.
In addition, his initial relationship with his new race engineer, Riccardo Adami, who previously worked with Carlos Sainz and Sebastian Vettel, was described as positive. This bodes well for Hamilton’s integration into the Ferrari team as he embarks on a new chapter in his career.
Comfort in the cockpit has been a significant issue for Hamilton in recent years. During his time at Mercedes, he frequently complained about various problems with the car’s setup, especially in the final seasons. In 2022, he struggled with porpoising due to the new ground-effect regulations, and in 2023, he had issues with cockpit positioning, claiming that sitting too close to the front wheels was “one of the worst feelings” he had experienced behind the wheel. This emphasis on comfort in the cockpit could be key to Hamilton’s hopes for a successful stint at Ferrari, as the team works to fine-tune the car to his liking ahead of the new season.
With the pedal issue expected to be sorted out soon, Hamilton will likely have a much smoother second test in Barcelona, where he hopes to refine his relationship with the car and continue his transition into life at Ferrari.
