Hamilton “slowly bonding” with new Ferrari F1 car

Lewis Hamilton reckons he’s “slowly bonding” along with his Ferrari after notching up a complete of 115 laps in his new challenger for 2025.

Hamilton switched to the Italian crew within the winter and had made no secret of the struggles he had along with his Mercedes from final season.

The seven-time F1 world champion was collaborating in pre-season testing in Bahrain, the place he says he’s attending to grips with the SF-25.

He mentioned: “It’s a bit early to say however I’m actually having fun with the automotive. We’re slowly bonding.

“Yesterday was a so-so day. It was OK. However yesterday we bought by means of all of our run plan.

“We’re testing a bunch of issues. So I’m not doing set-up modifications or directing the place I would like the automotive to go. We’re simply going by means of the motions.

“At the moment was a bit extra of attending to discover a little bit of my interplay with my engineer. Thus far I actually take pleasure in driving this automotive.”

Hamilton spent 12 seasons with Mercedes and says it’s taking him time to regulate to driving a Ferrari F1 automotive for the primary time in his profession and in consequence is working by means of completely different set-up choices.

He added: “For the time being, there’s nonetheless room to discover extra, and I am simply, little by little, eking out somewhat bit extra every time.

“All of the settings are so completely different. So even simply brake bias and all these kinds of issues, it is a lot completely different to what I had within the earlier place.

“It’s not essentially unlearning what I did earlier than, however type of relearning this new approach of working and the place the automotive likes to be pushed.

“It likes to be pushed in another way. And that is a very enjoyable journey studying that. However for the time being, it feels that we positively really feel the automotive beneath me.

“I really feel that the automotive is responding to my inputs. At the moment was a constructive day, and making these incremental steps with the set-up. There’s nonetheless extra work to do.”

Hamilton seems to be reinvigorated and buoyed by his change, saying his arrival at Ferrari couldn’t have gone any higher.

He was watched in Bahrain by Ferrari chairman, John Elkann, who made a uncommon look at testing.

Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari, John Elkann, Ferrari Chairman and CEO

Photograph by: Clive Rose / Motorsport Photos

Hamilton mentioned: “The way you begin typically is essential. This previous month could not have gone any completely different, and it could not have gone any higher.

“The times that we have had – simply each day has been vital and actually about simply constructing basis, and while now we have to cram so much in a small house of time, we have not rushed it.

“We nonetheless have taken the time however now we have simply been working flat out within the days, lengthy, lengthy, lengthy days, however that is what we’re right here for, proper?

“I actually do assume it is going to pay dividends shifting forwards, the work that has gone on, the main target, the communication, the modifications that we have made, however there shall be extra additionally over the six to eight months.

“That is going to be constantly evolving, however it felt seamless. It is felt straightforward in a way of gelling with the crew. We’ve got not needed to power it. It is completed it in its personal time, and I really feel at house.”

Images from the Bahrain Pre-Season Testing – Day 2