Lewis Hamilton’s much-anticipated switch from Mercedes to Ferrari has not been without its challenges.
The seven-time world champion made the surprise announcement at the start of last year, signing a £50million-a-year deal with Ferrari.
Since then, the British driver has been slowly finding his place within the iconic Italian team.
However, his early performances and some awkward moments during testing have shown that adjusting to life after over a decade with Mercedes won’t be as seamless as he might have hoped.
Difficult Start for Hamilton in Pre-Season Testing
When Hamilton finally made his first public appearance with Ferrari at the pre-season testing in Bahrain, expectations were sky-high.
Fans flocked to see their new star in the legendary red colors of Ferrari.
But on the track, Hamilton was a far cry from the front-runners, finishing the third day of testing in 13th place, well behind the leaders, with Lando Norris setting the fastest lap.
It was a tough start for the seven-time world champion, and one that showed just how much work Hamilton has ahead of him as he tries to adjust to his new car.
A Bumpy Transition from Mercedes to Ferrari
The transition from his longtime team, Mercedes, has proved to be more challenging than anticipated.
Not only did Hamilton have to get used to a new car, but he also faced a few embarrassing moments, such as being mistakenly identified as a Mercedes driver in graphics during the live broadcast on F1 TV and Sky Sports.
These gaffes highlighted how deeply Hamilton’s identity has been intertwined with his previous team, and how difficult it will be for him to completely shed that past after 12 years with Mercedes.
Adding to the awkwardness, Hamilton’s former team was seen removing his iconic number 44 from equipment at the Bahrain test, further signaling the end of an era for the driver.
Even his former teammate, George Russell, commented on how strange it felt to see Hamilton leave, noting the huge personality Hamilton brought both on and off the track.
Despite the shift, Russell expressed optimism about the new chapter Hamilton is beginning with Ferrari.
Hamilton’s Progress in the Ferrari SF-25
Despite the rough start, Hamilton is determined to get to grips with his new Ferrari.
He completed 70 laps during the morning session in Bahrain, but his best time of 1:31.834 was still some way off Norris’ top time of 1:30.430.
However, Hamilton has already begun tweaking the car to better suit his preferences, such as adjusting the steering wheel, which was notably different from his previous Mercedes setup.
According to former Ferrari reserve driver Oliver Bearman, Hamilton has altered some of the buttons on the wheel to better match the habits he built with his Mercedes car.
Sky Sports analyst Alex Brundle also emphasized that this is essentially Hamilton’s first real opportunity to work with the SF-25, and there’s plenty of room for improvement.
Brundle pointed out that testing at the Fiorano circuit didn’t give Hamilton enough mileage to fully get a feel for the car.
“It’s narrow, it’s bumpy, and you just don’t get enough laps,” he explained.
With a new front suspension setup and other changes to adapt to, Hamilton’s experience will be crucial in understanding how to drive the Ferrari at its best.
Looking Ahead: Hamilton’s Motivation and the Future with Ferrari
As the testing progresses, it’s clear that Hamilton’s motivation and experience will be key to moving the Ferrari forward.
Brundle, among others, is excited to see how Hamilton adapts to the challenges and how he develops his relationship with the car.
“It’s going to be really interesting to see that Ferrari progress,” he said, adding that Hamilton’s energy and drive will be critical in pushing the team to new heights this season.
With a fully motivated Hamilton behind the wheel, Ferrari fans can only hope that the initial struggles are temporary and that their new star will soon find his rhythm.
For Hamilton, this is just the beginning of a new and exciting chapter in his illustrious career, and the next few months will reveal how quickly he can adjust to life with the Prancing Horse.