Lewis Hamilton says his first month as a Ferrari driver “could not have gone any higher” and he’s “slowly bonding” with the staff’s 2025 automotive forward of the primary race with them in a fortnight’s time.
Hamilton was talking after finishing his second session of working in Ferrari’s new SF-25 automotive at Bahrain testing on Thursday, a morning which noticed the 40-year-old set what stands because the second-fastest time of the week.
And whereas headline lap occasions from testing are hardly ever an correct indicator of true efficiency with groups working differing programmes and gasoline hundreds, Hamilton struck a transparent word of optimism and positivity about his begin to life at Ferrari when talking in TV interviews afterwards.
“The way you begin is commonly essential,” mentioned Hamilton of his first weeks at Ferrari since arriving on the Scuderia in mid-January.
“This previous month could not have gone any completely different and could not have gone any higher. Issues alongside the best way needed to occur, Barcelona needed to occur.
“Each day has been important and about constructing basis. While I discussed we needed to cram loads in a small area of time, we have not rushed it.
“Lengthy days, however that is what we’re right here for. I believe it would pay dividends going forwards. It will repeatedly be evolving and it is felt seamless, felt straightforward in a way of gelling with the staff. I’ve not needed to pressure it and I really feel at residence.”
Hamilton ‘actually having fun with’ driving 2025 Ferrari
Whereas a lot of Hamilton’s prospects within the 2025 season – which begins with the Australian GP on March 16 reside on Sky Sports activities F1 – will finally relaxation on the competitiveness of Ferrari’s newest challenger, his first season in crimson can be set to be decided by his personal acclimatisation to the SF-25 after struggles for consistency with current Mercedes vehicles within the ground-effect guidelines period.
Requested if he felt Ferrari’s 2025 automotive idea felt higher for him in contrast with the one he drove at Mercedes in 2024, Hamilton mentioned: “I believe it’s kind of early to say however I’m actually having fun with the automotive. We’re slowly bonding I believe.
“Yesterday was a so-so day, it was simply OK. However we acquired by all our run plans, we’re testing a bunch of issues. I am not doing set-up adjustments or directing the place we would like the automotive to go, whereas immediately was exploring a bit my interplay with my engineer.
“Up to now, I actually take pleasure in driving this automotive.”
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Journey onboard with Lewis as he took his quickest lap in the course of the morning session of F1 Testing in Bahrain
And on adapting to the variations of a Ferrari F1 automotive, Hamilton added: “As of late are about exploring. In the meanwhile, there’s nonetheless room to discover extra and little by little I am eking out a bit extra.
“All of the settings are so completely different, even brake bias is completely different. I am not essentially unlearning what I had earlier than however am studying this new means of working and the best way this automotive must be pushed is completely different and that is a enjoyable journey.
“I really feel just like the automotive is beneath me and responding to my inputs. There’s nonetheless extra work to do however timings aren’t massively related, you simply should focus in your programme.
“We could have a little bit of a base feeling tomorrow however I believe it will likely be very shut. Everybody has achieved a fantastic job over the winter, even the Williams appears to be like good.”
Sky Sports activities F1’s reside pre-season testing schedule
Friday February 28 – Day Three
- 6.50am-11.05am: Morning Session
- 11.55am-4.05pm: Afternoon Session
- 8pm: Testing Wrap
- 8.30pm: Ted’s Testing Pocket book
- 9pm: Ted’s Growth Nook
When is the primary F1 race?
For the primary time since 2019, the season-opener might be held in Melbourne on the Australian Grand Prix on March 14-16. The primary race has switched from Bahrain to Australia because of Ramadan going down all through March.
There are 24 occasions on the 2025 F1 calendar, the identical quantity as final yr, with the season ending on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 5-7.
Watch all 24 race weekends from the 2025 Method 1 season reside on Sky Sports activities F1, beginning with the Australian GP on March 14-16. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – No contract, cancel anytime
