F1 news: A new dawn for Ferrari - Lewis Hamilton begins his Maranello chapter
On Wednesday morning, Lewis Hamilton made his highly anticipated testing debut with Ferrari.
The private session was held at the testing Fiorano track in Maranello, with Hamilton’s family present, and physio, Angela Cullen, with whom he recently reunited.
Samy Aouati, Sports News Blitz writer, analyses how the Brit will fare with his new team.
A new dawn
A new era at Maranello began when Lewis Hamilton finally drove a Ferrari Formula 1 car at the Fiorano circuit.
Something about Hamilton gearing up for this season feels special, and the whole world stopped to witness his first few days unfold.
The seven-time world champion star factor is an incredible asset for Ferrari, however, the two have kindled perfectly, as he has also joined the most prestigious motorsport organisation in the world.
It seems like a match made in heaven and we are only just witnessing the beginning.
Will the stars align?
Ferrari has had a great trajectory for the past few years, with steady progress.
They took F1 Constructors Champions McLaren to the final race in the 2024 season, narrowly missing out.
Despite a gut-wrenching end to the season, they have shown amazing car development.
Hamilton heading over to Ferrari hoping to claim a record 8th Drivers Championship is a bold move, which he has seemingly prepared for well.
Reuniting with sports performance coach Angela Cullen has sparked excitement amongst fans claiming that the ‘band is getting back together.’
The aim is to recreate the environment that allowed the Brit to thrive, and reintroducing Cullen might help him overcome any mental challenges he might face.
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In Formula 1, your closest enemy is your team-mate
The real question is how well he can integrate into the Ferrari family and work well with his mechanics. Will there be a problem with his new team-mate Charles Leclerc?
Whilst there will be an element of mutual respect between them both, Hamilton will be the better driver based on his achievements.
However, Leclerc doesn’t strike as someone who will be easily pushed aside to allow Hamilton to win an 8th title.
The Monagasque is quick and has been Ferrari’s golden boy for many years. Since his move from Sauber, the team have invested heavily in him.
Teammates in Formula 1 are never really team-mates.
Famously, we have seen rivalries emerge and tensions rise within teams.
Whilst you would want both team-mates to be rapid, you are at risk of creating a very frisky environment.
Will Ferrari be able to handle the heat?
A battle to look forward to
If Ferrari produce a car capable of winning races we could have a season for the ages.
McLaren seems to have the fastest car, but you can’t count Red Bull out, especially with their four-time world champion Max Verstappen.
Ferrari is set to show the world their 2025 challenger on February 19th as fans eagerly await the start of what seems to be a memorable Formula 1 season.
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