Lewis Hamilton arrived in Maranello on Monday morning. Your entire Ferrari F1 group 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 monitor on this planet. Now, at 40 years outdated, it’s time to enter the realm of legends.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 may have completed his profession comfortably. He had nothing extra to show. As an alternative, pushed by a predatory intuition and childhood desires, the British driver wished to face the ultimate problem of his profession. Profitable with Ferrari has a unique taste. If, as all supporters of the Prancing Horse count on, he manages to carry the championship again to Maranello, he’ll turn into a dwelling legend. The primary method passed off in current days: a go to to the manufacturing facility, simulator periods, and a shakedown on the monitor with the 2023 season automotive.
Lewis Hamilton was capable of check the Brembo brakes, on which he expressed a really constructive opinion. Because of Italian know-how, the purpose is to resolve 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 type of lesson to discover ways to greatest use the Italian energy unit. Attaining the proper “guide reminiscence” to totally exploit the facility unit with its varied controls is not going to be straightforward. He’s additionally engaged on this within the simulator.
The Ferrari SF-23 single-seater wasn’t an excellent 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 diminished work program. About thirty laps the place he grew to become conversant in the varied controls and, on the identical time, began to get to know the Maranello group’s working methodology. Though it’s all the time essential to get on monitor, 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 concentrate on the work to be accomplished. Charles Leclerc may even be current with him. One other attention-grabbing element considerations the check organized by Pirelli for the 2026 tires. The Worldwide Federation is properly conscious of how difficult it’s for the Italian tire producer to work on the brand new technology of tires and not using a automotive regulated by the upcoming algorithm. That’s why they’ll permit 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 struggle 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 idea for the automotive that shall be unveiled on January nineteenth by way of broadcast, after which seen on monitor at Fiorano for the primary pre-season run. The anticipation is kind of excessive, there’s no denying it, as a result of testing the SF-24 will present the primary essential suggestions for Lewis Hamilton, looking forward to the 2025 Components 1 championship. In the meantime, nevertheless, the check earlier automotive programme will begin subsequent Tuesday on the Catalan monitor, the place Lewis Hamilton’s chemistry with the purple automotive will proceed to develop.
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