Lewis Hamilton will be joined by his father Anthony when he completes one of his most emotional drives on Wednesday – his first for Ferrari.
Mail Sport can reveal that Anthony, who financed his son’s career by taking on three jobs, will be accompanied at the Scuderia’s Fiorano track by the seven-time world champion’s mother Carmen and his stepmother Linda – along with thousands of curious fans beyond the fence.
It is understood that Hamilton will wear a special helmet for the occasion. But last night the 40-year-old stuck to regulation red in a picture on X, formerly Twitter, wearing Ferrari overalls. It was captioned: ‘FIRST TIME IN RED.’
The seven-time world champion announced the shock move to his boyhood team at the start of 2024, calling time on 12 years driving for Mercedes.
After winning the lion’s share of his world titles with the British team, Hamilton was then forced to endure a nightmare farewell season which saw him outqualified by his team-mate George Russell at every race weekend in 2024.
Hamilton was able to claim the British Grand Prix at Silverstone and the Belgium Grand Prix, but otherwise saw himself finish seventh in the drivers’ standings.
Lewis Hamilton (right) will be joined by his father Anthony (left) when he completes his first ever drive for Ferrari. Pictured: The pair celebrate after winning the British Grand Prix in 2024
Hamilton shared a picture of himself posing in Ferrari’s iconic red racing suit on Tuesday
The Brit, 40, has arrived in Maranello ahead of taking to Ferrari’s test track for the first time
But the British driver will be excited at the prospect of a new start, and has been sharing new glimpses of his life in Italy after jetting to Maranello earlier this week to begin his life as a Ferrari driver.
Mail Sport reported on Sunday that Hamilton will take to Ferrari’s Fiorano test track on Wednesday for the first time since his landmark deal was announced.
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.
The Briton is then expected to step up his on-track acclimatisation programme in Barcelona at the end of the month.
Hamilton 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.
But alongside him will be a familiar face, with Mail Sport exclusively revealing on Monday that Hamilton is set to be reunited with his trusted aid Angela Cullen for the first time in two years.
The 50-year-old New Zealand physio – whom Hamilton previously described as ‘one of the best things that has happened to me in my life’ – is staying in Fiorano after re-joining his Mission 44 team.
After arriving in Italy at the start of the week, Hamilton was immediately given a tour around Ferrari’s factory by luminaries including his new team principal Frederic Vasseur.
Droves of curious fans beyond the fence will be keen to see how Hamilton fares on the track
Hamilton took a tour of Ferrari’s factory after landing in Italy to start his new era with the team
Hamilton pictured alongside father Anthony and step-mother Linda (right) back in 2012
He also met key figures including his new race engineer Riccardo Adami, who stays in post after fulfilled the same role for Hamilton’s predecessor Carlos Sainz.
Sainz, who raced alongside Hamilton’s new Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc last season, will compete for Williams during the 2025 season.