Lewis Hamilton is ramping up his Formula 1 preparations by testing with his new Ferrari team at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya this week.
The seven-time world champion and his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc took turns driving a 2023 F1 car at the home of the Spanish Grand Prix on Tuesday, as Hamilton continues his transition from Mercedes to Ferrari.
After completing an initial acclimatisation run at Ferrari’s Fiorano test track in Italy last week, Hamilton is now focused on learning the team’s procedures and building his working relationship with his new race engineer Riccardo Adami.
Ferrari’s Intensive Testing Plan
Leclerc drove the morning session, while Hamilton took over in the afternoon.
Ferrari is conducting the test behind closed doors, and no further details have been released.
The team is expected to run for three days in Spain, but F1 regulations limit drivers to a total of 1,000km (621 miles) of testing in previous-year cars.
The 2023 Ferrari is the newest car allowed for private testing under F1 rules.
Hamilton is also adapting to Ferrari’s engine operating procedures, having spent his entire F1 career using Mercedes power units.
Modern 1.6-litre V6 turbo hybrid F1 engines feature complex energy recovery systems and multiple power modes, requiring drivers to learn unique software and operational controls specific to each manufacturer.
Upcoming Ferrari Events
February 19: Ferrari will unveil their 2025 F1 car, with Hamilton and Leclerc set for a brief shakedown at Fiorano.
February 26-28: Official pre-season testing in Bahrain, where the drivers will share testing duties before the season opener.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli Passes Driving Test Before F1 Debut
In the other news, Mercedes’ new driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli has passed his driving test just six weeks before making his Formula 1 debut at the Australian Grand Prix.
Antonelli, who turned 18 last August, is replacing Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes and will partner George Russell this season.
Mercedes confirmed the news on social media, posting: “Mission completed”, alongside checkmarks for both his driving licence and F1 super-licence, with a photo of Antonelli in a driving school car.
Antonelli has already completed thousands of miles of testing in F1 machinery and will split pre-season testing dutieswith Russell in Bahrain (Feb. 26-28) before his race debut.
