Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton is continuing his extensive preparations for the 2024 season, as he tests with his new team, Ferrari, at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya this week.
The British driver, who made the shock move to Ferrari after 12 years with Mercedes, is spending valuable time in the car to ensure he’s fully ready for the upcoming campaign.
Hamilton, alongside his new teammate Charles Leclerc, took to the track on Tuesday, both driving Ferrari’s 2023 F1 car.
This session at the Spanish Grand Prix’s home circuit comes after Hamilton’s initial acclimatisation at Ferrari’s Fiorano test track in Italy last week, as the 40-year-old begins to build his experience with the legendary Italian team.
The Ferrari team is pulling out all the stops to ensure Hamilton is fully prepared for the challenges that lie ahead. This includes helping him adapt to Ferrari’s unique operating procedures and building a working relationship with his new race engineer, Riccardo Adami.
The partnership between Hamilton and Adami is still in its early stages, as both driver and engineer work together to figure out the most effective way of communicating and setting up the car for the season ahead.
Hamilton, who has spent the entirety of his F1 career driving Mercedes cars, will also need time to adjust to Ferrari’s power unit.
While all modern F1 engines are turbo-hybrid V6s with sophisticated energy recovery systems, each manufacturer’s engine features unique software and operating procedures.
Hamilton will need to learn these differences, particularly since Ferrari’s power units are quite distinct from Mercedes’ design, which Hamilton is most familiar with.
The test in Spain is taking place behind closed doors, and Ferrari has not released specific details about the session. However, it is understood that the team is running for three days, within the limited testing regulations imposed by F1.
Under current rules, current race drivers can only complete 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) of testing each year in cars from previous seasons. The 2023 car is the most recent model that can be used under these testing limits.
Although details are scarce, Hamilton and Leclerc’s participation in the test is a crucial part of the team’s effort to fine-tune the car ahead of the season’s start.
The 2024 season promises to be a challenging one, with the introduction of the new Ferrari car in February, which will be unveiled on February 19.
Both Hamilton and Leclerc are expected to take the new 2025 Ferrari for a spin at Fiorano before heading to Bahrain for the official pre-season test at the end of February.
For Hamilton, the switch to Ferrari marks a new chapter in his illustrious career. While he has already won seven world championships with Mercedes, the chance to race for one of F1’s most iconic teams is a fresh and exciting challenge.
As the 2024 season approaches, all eyes will be on Hamilton as he embarks on this new journey with Ferrari, aiming to continue his pursuit of an eighth world title in one of F1’s most competitive eras.