Lewis Hamilton reckons he’s “slowly bonding” along with his Ferrari after notching up a complete of 115 laps in his new challenger for 2025.
Hamilton switched to the Italian staff within the winter and had made no secret of the struggles he had along with his Mercedes from final season.
The seven-time F1 world champion was collaborating in pre-season testing in Bahrain, the place he says he’s attending to grips with the SF-25.
He mentioned: “It’s a bit early to say however I’m actually having fun with the automobile. We’re slowly bonding.
“Yesterday was a so-so day. It was OK. However yesterday we obtained by way of all of our run plan.
“We’re testing a bunch of issues. So I’m not doing set-up modifications or directing the place I would like the automobile to go. We’re simply going by way of the motions.
“Immediately was a bit extra of attending to discover a little bit of my interplay with my engineer. To this point I actually take pleasure in driving this automobile.”
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari SF-25
Picture by: Ferrari
Hamilton spent 12 seasons with Mercedes and says it’s taking him time to regulate to driving a Ferrari F1 automobile for the primary time in his profession and in consequence is working by way of totally different set-up choices.
He added: “In the intervening time, there’s nonetheless room to discover extra, and I am simply, little by little, eking out a little bit bit extra every time.
“All of the settings are so totally different. So even simply brake bias and all these types of issues, it is a lot totally different to what I had within the earlier place.
“It’s not essentially unlearning what I did earlier than, however type of relearning this new method of working and the place the automobile likes to be pushed.
“It likes to be pushed in a different way. And that is a very enjoyable journey studying that. However in the mean time, it feels that we undoubtedly really feel the automobile beneath me.
“I really feel that the automobile is responding to my inputs. Immediately was a constructive day, and making these incremental steps with the set-up. There’s nonetheless extra work to do.”
Hamilton seems reinvigorated and buoyed by his swap, saying his arrival at Ferrari couldn’t have gone any higher.
He was watched in Bahrain by Ferrari chairman, John Elkann, who made a uncommon look at testing.
Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari, John Elkann, Ferrari Chairman and CEO
Picture by: Clive Rose / Motorsport Photos
Hamilton mentioned: “The way you begin usually is essential. This previous month could not have gone any totally different, and it could not have gone any higher.
“The times that we have had – simply day by day has been vital and actually about simply constructing basis, and while we’ve got to cram so much in a small area of time, we’ve not rushed it.
“We nonetheless have taken the time however we’ve got simply been working flat out within the days, lengthy, lengthy, lengthy days, however that is what we’re right here for, proper?
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“I actually do suppose it should pay dividends transferring forwards, the work that has gone on, the main focus, the communication, the modifications that we have made, however there might be extra additionally over the six to eight months.
“That is going to be constantly evolving, but it surely felt seamless. It is felt simple in a way of gelling with the staff. We’ve got not needed to pressure it. It is accomplished it in its personal time, and I really feel at residence.”
Photographs from the Bahrain Pre-Season Testing – Day 2
On this article
Ben Hunt
Formulation 1
Lewis Hamilton
Ferrari
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