Following two days of conferences and introductions, Lewis Hamilton lastly bought to do what he was employed to do at Ferrari.
Climb into the cockpit of a System 1 automobile and push it to the restrict.
Hamilton climbed into the SF-23, the staff’s challenger throughout the 2023 season, at Ferrari’s check observe on Wednesday and put the machine by its paces. Beneath F1’s Testing of Earlier Automobiles (TPC) laws, Hamilton was capable of get a really feel for Ferrari equipment whereas driving a automobile utilized in a earlier season.
In a post-session report, Hamilton described the day as “among the finest emotions of my life.”
“I’ve been fortunate sufficient to have many firsts in my profession, from the primary check to the primary race, podium, win and championship, so I wasn’t positive what number of extra firsts I had however driving a Scuderia Ferrari HP automobile for the primary time this morning, was among the finest emotions of my life,” stated Hamilton. “After I began the automobile up and drove by that storage door, I had the largest smile on my face. It jogged my memory of the very first time I examined a System 1 automobile, it was such an thrilling and particular second, and right here I’m, virtually twenty years later, feeling these feelings yet again.”
Hamilton accomplished 30 laps in his session, protecting 89 kilometers. Beneath TPC laws vehicles are solely allowed to run for a complete of 1,000 kilometers throughout a single staff’s drivers.
“I already knew from the surface how passionate the Ferrari household is, from everybody within the staff to the Tifosi! However to now witness it firsthand as a Ferrari driver has been awe-inspiring,” added Hamilton. “That zeal runs by their veins and you may’t assist however be energised by it. I’m so grateful for the love I’ve felt from everybody in Maranello this week, we’ve got a variety of work to do however I can’t wait to get began.”
Whereas Hamilton’s session within the morning was extra of an introductory session for the legendary driver to Ferrari equipment, Charles Leclerc’s afternoon session was a a lot totally different program. In response to the staff Leclerc accomplished 43 laps, “because the SF-23 holds no secrets and techniques for him.”
“The primary day again within the automobile is at all times an ideal feeling after the vacations. It’s good to be again on observe, to see that so many followers got here out to observe us. Feeling all this pleasure surrounding the staff could be very motivating. It was an excellent day, though it was raining a bit bit after I was driving,” stated Leclerc.
“After all it was good to have the ability to see Lewis driving his first laps in a Ferrari, which was a particular second for the staff and for him,” added Leclerc. “Now I’m trying ahead to being again within the automobile subsequent week and to actually begin working laborious for the approaching season.”
Each periods got here below the watchful eyes of Ferrari’s management, together with Workforce Principal Frederic Vasseur and Ferrari Vice President Piero Ferrari.
“As is the case yearly, the primary time you exit on observe is a bit like the primary day again at college and fairly an emotional feeling, particularly in the present day because it was Lewis’ first day as a part of the staff,” stated Vasseur. “Welcoming a brand new driver is at all times an necessary second. Perhaps in the present day was much less particular for Charles, however it was good to see him match, relaxed and eager to go racing once more.
“As for the technical facet, Charles and Lewis did their laps in not the very best climate, however they bought again within the swing of issues and immersed themselves within the observe atmosphere previous to the primary correct check in a month’s time in Bahrain,” added the Ferrari Workforce Principal. “It was additionally a warm-up for the staff within the storage. That was the only goal of in the present day.”
