Hamilton makes first visit to Ferrari F1 factory ahead of testing debut

Lewis Hamilton is set to make his Ferrari track debut on 22 January at Fiorano circuit, driving the F1-75 car from the 2022 Formula 1 season, Autosport understands.

Joining Charles Leclerc at the Scuderia for the upcoming campaign after spending the last 12 years at Mercedes, Hamilton went to Maranello on Monday morning to prepare for his maiden run in red.

Hamilton has been able to get acquainted with his new squad, catching up with team principal Frederic Vasseur – whom he knows well after taking back-to-back titles for the Frenchman’s ASM/ART outfit in F3 Euro Series and GP2 in 2005 and 2006 – as well as Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna and vice chairman Piero Ferrari. The Briton also met his new race engineer Riccardo Adami, who previously worked with Carlos Sainz.

Hamilton’s new seat was prepared ahead of the upcoming running and he made sure the adjustments he requested on the steering wheel were carried out. He then had a first run on the simulator to get accustomed with his new environment.

Further work is planned this afternoon and tomorrow, with what Ferrari describes as “more technical meetings and briefings” to make Hamilton ready for his first test day at Fiorano.

“There are some days that you know you’ll remember forever and today, my first as a Ferrari driver, is one of those days,” Hamilton said on social media.

Sir Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team, Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari

Photo by: Steve Etherington / Motorsport Images

“I’ve been lucky enough to have achieved things in my career I never thought possible, but part of me has always held on to that dream of racing in red. I couldn’t be happier to realise that dream today.

“Today we start a new era in the history of this iconic team, and I can’t wait to see what story we will write together.”

The high-profile signing’s debut has enthused the tifosi, Autosport understands, to the extent that hotels in the Sassuolo area are fully booked and Maranello mayor Luigi Zironi has requested stricter security measures from the police, notably regarding traffic near the factory and track.

On Wednesday, Hamilton will share the track with Leclerc ahead of more testing at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya later this month, with those plans yet to be confirmed.

Ferrari intends to use up its yearly 1000km of ‘Testing of Previous Cars’ allowed by F1’s new sporting regulations for current race drivers in 2025, benefitting its new hire.