Formula 1’s biggest ever driver move comes ahead of the new 2025 season as seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton prepares for his first year at Ferrari.
Keep up to date with the latest important dates and events throughout the pre-season here, as the early stages of one of the sport’s most anticipated ties come to an end…
When will Hamilton drive a Ferrari for the first time?
Ferrari have yet to officially confirm Hamilton’s exact early moves at their base in Maranello when he first arrives in January, but team principal Frederic Wasser told the media just before Christmas that their star signing was set to debut on track with the team’s older cars in one.
This is because F1’s sporting regulations allow testing of previous cars (TPC) under certain restrictions, and teams this year can run their cars from 2023, 2022 or 2021 for race weekends and official testing from 2025 out
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In an exclusive interview, Fred Wasser shares the Ferrari team’s goals for the new season, hopes for Lewis Hamilton’s debut and the team’s challenge to beat Max Verstappen.
Given that pre-season testing for the new 2025 racers will take place in Bahrain until the end of February, a run in the old car will give Hamilton his first chance to get used to the unique features of one of the Scuderia’s cars and working practice on the track.
What we do know so far is that Hamilton’s bow will reach the Scuderia Fiorano the test track adjacent to their factory in Maranello, the exact date of which is indicated in the second half of January will be determined closer to the time by the weather forecast.
When did Hamilton first appear publicly as a Ferrari driver?
Wasser confirmed there will be no pre-season “reveal” event to mark the seven-time world champion’s arrival at the Scuderia, but Hamilton will definitely join new team-mate Charles Leclerc and the rest of the much-changed 2025 F1 network at the sport’s special season launch event at London’s O2. to whom February 18.
Hamilton will then take part in the start of his first Ferrari a day later at Maranello February 19.
When will Hamilton drive Ferrari’s 2025 car for the first time?
While Hamilton and Leclerc are likely to drive their new 2025 car at Fiorano On one of the team’s permitted “shooting days” following the team’s launch on February 19, the pair’s full debut in the team’s final competition will come during testing in Bahrain. February 26-28.
Hamilton and Leclerc will share driving duties over three days in the Middle East, meaning they will be on track for a day and a half each.
When and where will he make his Ferrari racing debut?
Melbourne’s Albert Park will be Hamilton’s first race venue as a Ferrari driver. March 14-16 as the Australian Grand Prix returns to open the 2025 season.
All 24 race weekends in the new season are live Sky Sports F1.
How much is his Ferrari contract?
Ferrari said they had signed a “multi-year” deal with Hamilton when the move was announced last February. While not publicly stating the exact length of the term, the multi-year deal will certainly cover both the 2025 and 2026 seasons and may even include options. for the British to continue beyond it.
Hamilton, who turned 40 on Jan. 7, said in April 2024 that “I’m going to race until I’m 40,” having previously played down the possibility of a career that long.
The 2025 campaign marks Hamilton’s 19th consecutive season on the F1 grid.
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Lewis Hamilton discusses his reasons for moving to Ferrari and his relationship with team principal Frederik Wasser.
Why did Hamilton decide to join Ferrari?
It was a shock of truly seismic proportions when it was revealed on 1 February 2024 that Hamilton would be leaving Mercedes later that year to join rivals Ferrari.
Activating the break clause in what was previously thought to be a fixed two-year Mercedes contract that was agreed just five months ago, Hamilton said though it was “the hardest decision I think I’ve ever had to make since leaving”. he came to the conclusion that “after all I am writing my own story and I felt it was time to start a new chapter”.
How did Hamilton fare in the 2024 season?
An unusual 2024 season for Hamilton and Mercedes, which was always going to be unusual as his end-of-year exit was announced before the campaign even began, the Briton. finished outside the top six in the Drivers’ Championship for the first time (seventh). in his career and was surpassed by teammate George Russell.
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With seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton leaving Mercedes in 2024, check out his top seven with the team.
Struggling to marry his style to Mercedes’ 2024 car, which suited some tracks and conditions but struggled in others, Hamilton’s struggles were mostly evident in qualifying, where the pole-sitter was beaten 104 times by Russell and suffered shock early exits netting him lower and often jeopardizing his weekend.
However, there were some notable highs, particularly on race days, none more so than a brilliant win in mixed conditions at his home British GP, a record ninth win in a single Grand Prix and record-extending 104th overall to end a career-worst run of 56 races without a win. :
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Experience Lewis Hamilton’s final moments with Mercedes through his eyes at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
He inherited 105th place when team-mate Russell was disqualified at the Belgian GP, while the final weeks of his Mercedes career were sandwiched between uncharacteristically poor displays in Austin and a 12th place finish in a mistake-laden race in Qatar and a thrilling comeback from poor qualifying performances in Las Vegas and Mercedes’ farewell in Abu Dhabi;
Who replaced Hamilton at Mercedes?
Taking over as F1’s most successful driver of all time is one of the sport’s youngest ever debutants, an 18-year-old Italian. Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
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Sky Sports F1’s Karun Chandhok talks Kimi Antonelli’s journey to a Mercedes 2025 seat.
A Mercedes protégé who has owned the team since 2019, Antonelli won two races in his only year in F2 in 2024 and quickly moved up the motorsport ladder to one of the highest-ranked seats on the grid, clearly showing: belief in his potential by team boss Toto Wolff.
Watch all 24 race weekends of the 2025 Formula 1 season live on Sky Sports F1, starting with the Australian GP on March 14-16. Stream Sky Sports NOW – No contract, cancel anytime
