Lewis Hamilton gets behind the wheel of a Ferrari F1 car for the first time in his career. (2:37)
Lewis Hamilton is continuing to get to grips with life as a Ferrari driver during a private test session for him and teammate Charles Leclerc in Barcelona this week.
Ferrari booked the Circuit de Catalunya, host of the Spanish Grand Prix, for 3 days on January 28-30.
On Tuesday, Ferrari shared images of Hamilton and Leclerc driving the SF-23 car, used in the 2023 season.
Hamilton and Leclerc will rotate duties through the test, although Ferrari did not confirm the specifics of the schedule as it is subject to change.
The F1 regulations of the previous car [TPC] restrict existing racing drivers to 1000km of racing in vintage F1 cars per year.
Entering the 1644 era 🔴 pic.twitter.com/Dqfxb52iAH
Under TPC, Hamilton finished 30 laps (89 km) of the Ferrari Fioran track last Wednesday in the same car, as a component of his highly anticipated debut with the Italian team.
This week, Ferrari Hamilton’s images for the first time in Ferrari’s racing combinations.
The seven-time world champion’s move to Ferrari has dominated F1 headlines so far this offseason.
He and Leclerc will take part in a Pirelli tyre test at the Barcelona circuit on Feb. 4-5, using a modified 2024 ‘mule’ car.
Although F1’s regulations severely limit testing, Ferrari has made sure it has given Hamilton as much track time as possible.
Hamilton will have his first concept of Ferrari’s car in 2025 on February 19, when Ferrari officially launches its car. Hamilton and Leclerc do the laps of the Fiorano track in the new Challenger, they allow time.
The following week, Ferrari and the other nine groups of F1 will participate in 3 days of preseason tests in Bahrein from February 26 to 28, before going to Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix on March 16.
Speaking of his first laps in a Ferrari at Fiorano last week, Hamilton said: “When I started the car up and drove through that garage door, I had the biggest smile on my face.
“It reminded me of the first time I tested a Formula 1 car. It’s very exciting and special, and I’m here, almost 20 years later, feeling those feelings again.
“I already knew by the doors how passionate it is the circle of Ferrari relatives, from all in the team to the Tifosi [fans]. But testify now, as a Ferrari driver, it has been impressive.
“That hobvia runs through her veins and you can’t be energized through it yet. I’m so grateful for the love I’ve felt from everyone in Maranello this week, we have a lot of paintings to do I still can’t wait until I start. “