Lewis Hamilton will on Monday start out on a lifetime’s dream when he turns up for the first time at Ferrari’s factory in Maranello following his £50million-plus-a-year move to the Italian giants.
The seven-time world champion has waited nearly a year for his chance to go through the famous factory gates since his blockbuster deal was announced last February.
Mail Sport understands that he will say hello to staff and complete time on the simulator today before taking to Ferrari’s Fiorano test track on Wednesday, subject to a rejig if bad weather intervenes.
Excited Ferrari fans are expected to be out in force for the initial sighting of Hamilton at the wheel of the scarlet car.
Though the test will be private, and Ferrari are remaining deliberately secretive about the exact itinerary, it will be possible to glimpse Hamilton through the trees.
He will drive an old Ferrari, probably the 2023 car – the latest model allowed under the TCP (testing of previous cars) rule that permits a driver 1,000km (620 miles) of in-house practice.
Lewis Hamilton will say hello to Ferrari staff on Monday and complete time on the simulator
The seven-time world champion will then head to test track and driver Ferrari for the first time
Hamilton will debut as Charles Leclerc’s team-mate at the Australian Grand Prix on March 16
The Briton is then expected to step up his on-track acclimatisation programme in Barcelona at the end of the month. He will also take part in the official F1-wide test in Bahrain next month, in the new 2025 car, before making his race debut as Charles Leclerc’s team-mate at the Australian Grand Prix on March 16.
Hamilton, who turned 40 this month, has replaced Carlos Sainz in what is viewed as one of the most exciting transfers in F1 history. He is chasing an eighth world title but has won just three times since losing the championship to Max Verstappen in 2021.
Benedetta Vigna, Ferrari’s chief executive, confirmed Hamilton’s appearance in Maranello would fall this week, adding: ‘Changes are always beautiful.
‘We are preparing the last things. There is a lot of expectation. We are ready for almost everything. It’s all in place.