Lewis Hamilton is unfazed by a perceived preparation deficit at Ferrari compared to friend and former Formula 1 title rival Sebastian Vettel.
Hamilton’s Mercedes contract kept him from officially departing the Silver Arrows until the end of the calendar year and as such he missed out on the opportunity to drive the Ferrari SF-24 in the Abu Dhabi post-season test.
His first run in a Ferrari came in January, when he piloted the SF-23 around the Italian squad’s Fiorano test circuit, but new limitations on TPC (Testing of Previous Car) programmes limited Hamilton to four days in Ferrari’s 2023 challenger with his prep moving on to Barcelona.
The seven-time world champion also conducted 2026 Pirelli tyre testing in a modified SF-24 with an SF-25 shakedown on February 19, his final prep before pre-season testing.
It’s less time than Hamilton’s Ferrari predecessors have had in the past upon joining the Maranello-based squad.
“I still feel there is plenty to come, and fortunately, I’ve got to drive the 2023 car, so I have been able to compare the 2024 car to see where they’ve progressed the problems they had on those two cars, and how they’ve improved into this one,” Hamilton told select media including Motorsport Week.
Hamilton referenced Vettel’s move to Ferrari ahead of the 2015 season, whereby the German was able to acclimate to his new team in November, December 2014, piloting the Scuderia’s 2012 F1 car at Fiorano.
“I did not get to do the test at the end of the year, so I started comparatively late compared to others before me, like when Sebastian was here, I think he started in November, so he had a good two months,” Hamilton continued.
Hamilton enjoying ‘jumping in the deep end’ at Ferrari
Although Hamilton has had less time to prepare for life at Ferrari than Vettel, he’s enjoying his rampant integration.
“For me, it’s been this month period that I’ve had, so a lot has been crammed into that time, but personally, I like to jump in at the deep end and figure it out,” he said.
“We’re going through the processes and I feel like we’ve built a really good foundation, but we won’t know obviously until next week truly, exactly where we stand, but we know that we’ve got work to do.
“I’ve been really inspired by just how focused everybody is and how hard everyone is working, and getting to know everyone in the garage, like the night-shift crew and their processes and how they like to work. It just takes time.”
One thing that has impressed Hamilton upon joining Ferrari is the passion within the team.
He said “It’s one thing seeing it from outside, but then when you’re actually in it, it’s pretty incredible.
“Just from speaking to the whole team at the factory in one space, for example, and just seeing how passionate and excited they are, walking around different departments and meeting people who just live and breathe Ferrari, who grew up dreaming about getting to work there.
“There’s small places, towns in Italy where they’re growing up dreaming one day about being there [at Ferrari] and how proud they are to work there and how much time they take in the work is really beautiful to see.”
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