Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari debut: F1 legend thrilled by first drive

F1 driver Lewis Hamilton testing the Ferrari F1SF 75 on the Fiorano circuit, at Maranello. Photo / AFP, Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton drove a Ferrari Formula One car for the first time today NZT after the seven-time world champion took to the track at the team’s test circuit and admitted it was “one of the best feelings” of his life.

The 40-year-old Briton shocked the paddock last February when he announced, after 12 highly successful years with Mercedes, he was departing for the iconic Italian team.

On a foggy morning at the Fiorano test track near Ferrari’s Maranello base in northern Italy, Hamilton shot out in a test car wearing the classic red overalls and a distinctive yellow helmet.

“I’ve been lucky enough to have many firsts in my career, from the first test to the first race, podium, win and championship, so I wasn’t sure how many more firsts I had,” said Hamilton.

“But driving a Ferrari car for the first time this morning was one of the best feelings of my life.”

Groups of Ferrari’s passionate fans, described as “awe-inspiring” by Hamilton, watched on in the wet weather from a bridge overlooking the track as Hamilton zipped around.

Fans are hoping Hamilton can end an 18-year wait for a drivers’ F1 title which has been dominated by Mercedes and Red Bull.

Hamilton won just two Grands Prix – his British GP victory in July ended a two-and-a-half-year winless streak – and finished seventh in the 2024 world championship, a mammoth 214 points behind title-winner Max Verstappen of Red Bull.

“When I started the car up and drove through that garage door, I had the biggest smile on my face,” added Hamilton.

“It reminded me of the very first time I tested a Formula One car, it was such an exciting and special moment, and here I am, almost 20 years later, feeling those emotions all over again.”

Hamilton is set to unveil his 2025 car at Ferrari’s season launch alongside teammate Charles Leclerc on February 19 at Maranello, with testing in Bahrain the following week.