Lewis Hamilton’s seismic shift from Mercedes to Ferrari has captivated the Formula 1 world, and the seven-time champion is finally peeling back the curtain on his transition. After decades of racing in silver, Hamilton’s move to the scarlet-red Scuderia marks a bold new chapter—one filled with late-night garage sessions, rapid-fire testing, and a crash course in Ferrari’s legendary culture.
As the 2025 season looms, Hamilton opens up about the whirlwind journey that began at Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters. But what pivotal steps paved his path to this historic switch? Let’s dive in.
Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari baptism by fire
Hamilton’s integration into Ferrari wasn’t gradual—it was a sprint. Unlike Sebastian Vettel, who joined the team in late 2014 with a two-month runway, Hamilton’s onboarding began on January 20, compressing months of work into weeks.
“I started relatively late compared to Sebastian… a lot has been crammed in that time,” Lewis Hamilton admitted.
Yet, the Briton thrived under pressure, crediting Ferrari’s Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) sessions for accelerating his adaptation.
The TPC advantage
Ferrari’s TPC rules allowed Hamilton to test older models like the 2023 SF-23 and 2024 SF-24, offering a rare glimpse into the team’s evolution during the ground-effect era. His first outing at Fiorano drew crowds eager to witness history, while subsequent runs in Barcelona and tire tests sharpened his feel for Ferrari’s engineering philosophy.
“Driving the ’23 car let me compare it to the ’24 and see their progress,” Hamilton explained. “It’s the most positive feeling I’ve had in a long time.”
From reluctance to revelation
Despite his notorious dislike for testing, Lewis Hamilton found unexpected joy in Ferrari’s rigorous schedule.
“I’m super grateful for the TPC testing,” he said. “If I’d only had a day and a half, I wouldn’t be this comfortable with the car.” The sessions not only honed his technical rapport with the SF-25 but also deepened bonds with Ferrari’s crew. “I’ve been inspired by how focused everyone is—night shift, engineers, the whole team,” he shared. “It takes time, but we’ve built a solid foundation.”
The Vettel parallel
Hamilton’s late start contrasts sharply with Vettel’s 2015 transition, yet both faced immense scrutiny. While Vettel had months to mesh with Ferrari, Hamilton embraced a “deep end” approach. “I like to jump in and figure it out,” he said, reflecting on his compressed timeline. Despite the frenzy, he remains optimistic:
“We won’t know where we stand until next week, but everyone’s heads-down. There’s plenty to come.”
With pre-season testing complete, Lewis Hamilton’s focus shifts to Bahrain. While he avoids bold predictions—“too early to judge”—his optimism is palpable. For Ferrari fans, the wait is almost over. For Hamilton, it’s a chance to redefine his legacy—one scarlet lap at a time.
