Hamilton begins his dream career with Ferrari, marking a new chapter with F1’s iconic team

Lewis Hamilton has realised a lifelong dream with his Ferrari debut, embarking on a new era with the iconic Italian team. The seven-time world champion officially began preparations for the 2025 season on his first day at Ferrari’s headquarters in Maranello on Monday.

At 40 years old, Hamilton’s transition from Mercedes to Ferrari has been highly anticipated ever since he signed with the team in January 2024. Due to his ongoing commitments to Mercedes, however, Hamilton was unable to begin his new journey until the end of 2024.

In an emotional post on social media, Hamilton expressed his excitement about starting with Ferrari: “There are some days that you know you’ll remember forever, and today, my first as a Ferrari driver, is one of those days,” he said. “I’ve been lucky enough to achieve things in my career I never thought possible, but part of me has always held onto that dream of racing in red.”

The day was filled with important introductions and historical moments. Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur and CEO Benedetto Vigna gave Hamilton a tour of the Maranello factory, including a visit to the famed Fiorano test track, the pit garage, and the office where Enzo Ferrari himself once watched over his team.

Hamilton was also introduced to Ferrari’s management team and vice-chairman Piero Ferrari, continuing his deep dive into the team’s culture. The day was a “total immersion programme,” Ferrari said, with Hamilton meeting team members and touring all departments.

Excitement is building as Hamilton prepares for his first drives with Ferrari. He will test the 2023 F1 car at the Fiorano track later this week and then complete further tests at Barcelona before Ferrari’s 2025 car launch on 19 February. As per F1 regulations, he is restricted to driving the 2023 car for testing, but this will allow him to familiarise himself with Ferrari’s set-up before pre-season testing in Bahrain from 26-28 February.

Hamilton’s move to Ferrari marks a major shift, as it will be the first time in his 18-year F1 career that he will drive a car not powered by a Mercedes engine. Team principal Vasseur acknowledged the challenge Hamilton faces in adapting quickly to the Ferrari team, but expressed confidence in his experience. “It is not easy but he is coming with his own experience,” Vasseur said. “He’s not the rookie of the year, and I’m not worried at all about this.”

To aid in his assimilation, Hamilton will be residing in Italy, where Ferrari is based, in order to integrate better with the team’s culture.

Hamilton’s highly anticipated debut with Ferrari will be showcased at the official F1 launch at London’s O2 Arena on 18 February, before the new car is unveiled in Italy the following day. The 2025 season is set to begin in Australia in March, where Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc will share testing duties.

As Hamilton continues to chase another world title, the question on every fan’s mind is whether this move to Ferrari will be the key to finally securing an eighth championship, cementing his legacy as one of F1’s greatest drivers.