Lewis Hamilton arrived in Maranello on Monday morning. The whole Ferrari F1 workforce welcomed him with open arms, giving him a reception worthy of a Member of the British Empire. That is exactly the title that the Briton was awarded by Queen Elizabeth herself a number of years in the past. It’s no small honor. Sir Lewis is probably the most profitable driver within the historical past of Components 1, an indisputable fact. His expertise has taken him to victory on each observe on the earth. Now, at 40 years previous, it’s time to enter the realm of legends. To do that, there was just one possibility: to drive for Ferrari.
The Englishman left behind a “protected spot” the place he might have completed his profession comfortably. He had nothing extra to show. As a substitute, pushed by a predatory intuition and childhood goals, the British driver needed to face the ultimate problem of his profession. Profitable with Ferrari has a unique taste. If, as all supporters of the Prancing Horse anticipate, he manages to carry the championship again to Maranello, he’ll turn out to be a residing legend. The primary method passed off in latest days: a go to to the manufacturing facility, simulator periods, and a shakedown on the observe with the 2023 season automotive.
Lewis Hamilton was in a position to check the Brembo brakes, on which he expressed a really constructive opinion. Because of Italian know-how, the aim is to unravel the qualifying issues he confronted final season, when, with Mercedes, he used Carbon Industries brakes throughout braking. There was additionally the primary shut encounter with the PU 066/12. A sort of lesson to discover ways to finest use the Italian energy unit. Attaining the proper “guide reminiscence” to completely exploit the facility unit with its varied controls won’t be simple. He’s additionally engaged on this within the simulator.
The Ferrari SF-23 single-seater wasn’t an important automotive. Undoubtedly the weakest one produced within the wing automotive period. Nevertheless, driving it was improbable for Lewis Hamilton. Clearly excited, the Briton accomplished a lowered work program. About thirty laps the place he turned aware of the varied controls and, on the identical time, began to get to know the Maranello workforce’s working methodology. Though it’s at all times necessary to get on observe, subsequent week on the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, as we had beforehand anticipated, Lewis Hamilton will face a considerably extra demanding check.
He’ll have extra time to give attention to the work to be achieved. Charles Leclerc may even be current with him. One other fascinating element issues the check organized by Pirelli for the 2026 tires. The Worldwide Federation is nicely conscious of how sophisticated it’s for the Italian tire producer to work on the brand new era of tires and not using a automotive regulated by the upcoming algorithm. That’s why they’ll enable groups to make use of a modified 2024 automotive for this event. The seven-time F1 world champion will thus drive the Ferrari SF-24 in February.
That is the automotive that allowed Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz to battle for the constructors’ title till the final Components 1 Grand Prix on the 5.281-kilometre Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. A very good automotive, the premise for the automotive that can be unveiled on January nineteenth by way of broadcast, after which seen on observe at Fiorano for the primary pre-season run. The anticipation is sort of excessive, there’s no denying it, as a result of testing the SF-24 will present the primary necessary suggestions for Lewis Hamilton, waiting for the 2025 Components 1 championship. In the meantime, nonetheless, the check earlier automotive programme will begin subsequent Tuesday on the Catalan observe, the place Lewis Hamilton’s chemistry with the crimson automotive will proceed to develop.
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