Virtually a yr after the announcement of his determination to hitch Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton lastly acquired to drive one of many Italian staff’s F1 vehicles for the primary time on Wednesday
Picture: AP)
Lewis Hamilton stated his first expertise of driving a Ferrari F1 automotive was “among the best emotions of my life”.
Hamilton began work for his new staff this week and travelled to their base in Maranello, Italy, to fulfill his colleagues. And yesterday he acquired his first style of Ferrari F1 equipment with a run of their 2023 automotive across the Fiorano take a look at observe subsequent door to the manufacturing facility.
An enormous crowd of excited followers gathered on the circuit to cheer him on, some waving Union Flags and lots of extra sporting Ferrari merchandise. Hamilton acknowledged them after finishing 30 laps as he emerged from a black SUV to smile and wave to them, whereas his mom beamed as she recorded the scenes on her cellphone.
And afterwards the seven-time champion beamed: “Driving a Scuderia Ferrari automotive for the primary time this morning was among the best emotions of my life. Once I began the automotive up and drove by that storage door, I had the most important smile on my face.
“It jogged my memory of the very first time I examined a System 1 automotive, it was such an thrilling and particular second, and right here I’m, nearly 20 years later, feeling these feelings another time.
“I already knew from the skin how passionate the Ferrari household is, from everybody within the staff to the Tifosi! However to now witness it first-hand as a Ferrari driver has been awe-inspiring. That zeal runs by their veins and you’ll’t assist however be energised by it.”
Climate situations had been removed from ultimate with a dense fog masking the circuit, which was washed away by drizzle which restricted team-mate Charles Leclerc to only 14 laps of working. It was the primary of a number of take a look at days Ferrari have organised to assist get their new signing up to the mark.
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Hamilton can be set to check on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya which has been booked out by the staff for a number of days of working. He’ll then be current for the disclosing of his first correct Ferrari racing machine at F1’s season launch occasion at London’s O2 Enviornment on February 18.
And he’ll take a look at that for the primary time in Bahrain on the finish of February earlier than the season kicks off with the Australian Grand Prix on March 16.
Crew principal Frederic Vasseur stated: “Charles and Lewis did their laps in not one of the best climate, however they acquired again within the swing of issues and immersed themselves within the observe setting previous to the primary correct take a look at in a month’s time in Bahrain. It was additionally a warm-up for the staff within the storage. That was the only objective of as we speak.”
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