Hamilton “Really Enjoying” New Ferrari at F1 Pre-Season Testing in Bahrain

Lewis Hamilton has expressed that he is “really enjoying” his new Ferrari car after setting the second-fastest time on day two of the Formula 1 pre-season testing in Bahrain. The seven-time World Champion, who made the big move to the Italian team this season after 12 successful years with Mercedes, showed promising potential as he began to adapt to his new machine. Although he was narrowly beaten to the top spot by Williams’ Carlos Sainz, Hamilton’s performance suggests that his transition to Ferrari is going smoothly, with the team expecting great things from him in the upcoming season.

Hamilton’s Transition to Ferrari: A Strong Start

Lewis Hamilton’s performance on day two of pre-season testing was met with excitement from Ferrari fans and F1 enthusiasts alike. After securing the second-fastest lap time of 1:29.379, Hamilton proved that his decision to switch teams was the right one. His time was only 0.031 seconds slower than Sainz’s fastest lap, which highlights how close the competition was at the top of the leaderboards.

Hamilton’s move to Ferrari, a team with a rich history in Formula 1, is one of the most significant changes in the sport this season. After a dozen years at Mercedes, where he won multiple world titles, Hamilton’s switch to Ferrari marks a new chapter in his illustrious career. The seven-time champion’s comments about enjoying the car indicate that he is beginning to bond with his new team, and the early signs are positive.

Hamilton Reflects on His Early Days with Ferrari

F12025 pre-season testing: Lewis Hamilton ‘really happy’ with new Ferrari –

After completing his testing runs, Lewis Hamilton shared his thoughts on his time with Ferrari so far. “I am really enjoying the car. We’re slowly bonding. Yesterday was a so-so day, just OK. But we got through all our run-plan,” Hamilton said. These comments reflect that while there is still some adjustment to be made, he is feeling comfortable in his new surroundings. The British driver also mentioned that on the second day of testing, his focus shifted towards further fine-tuning his interaction with the engineers and exploring the car’s potential.

While the first day of testing was more about acclimatizing himself with the car, the second day allowed Hamilton to delve deeper into understanding its performance and how he could work alongside his engineers to optimize the setup. Hamilton’s ability to communicate effectively with the team is crucial for Ferrari’s success this season, and the early stages of testing are proving to be productive in this regard.

Ferrari’s Performance in Pre-Season Testing

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Pre-season testing in Formula 1 is often an unpredictable event, and as Lewis Hamilton himself pointed out, the testing times can sometimes be misleading due to factors such as fuel loads and engine modes, which are kept confidential by the teams. Therefore, it’s important to keep in mind that the lap times achieved during this testing period may not fully reflect the competitive performance once the season kicks off.

Nevertheless, Ferrari’s pace during the first two days of testing, especially with Hamilton in the car, suggests that the team has made significant progress over the winter. Ferrari’s overall speed and reliability during testing will be essential as they aim to challenge for the World Championship in 2024. Having a driver of Hamilton’s caliber will undoubtedly help Ferrari to improve their development and bring the car up to competitive standards.

Sainz and Leclerc’s Performances

While Lewis Hamilton was focusing on understanding his new Ferrari, his teammates, Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc, were also in action, providing valuable data for the team. Sainz, who set the fastest lap time of the day, showed that Ferrari had the potential to be among the quickest in Bahrain. The Spanish driver’s performance highlights the fact that Ferrari is working well as a team and making solid progress heading into the new season.

Leclerc, who took over from Hamilton for the post-lunch session, ended the day as the third-fastest driver, just 0.052 seconds behind Hamilton. This close performance from both Ferrari drivers shows that the team is in a good position going into the upcoming season. However, both Sainz and Leclerc had spins during the day, which might indicate that there are still areas for improvement when it comes to car balance and stability.

Mercedes’ George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli Impress

In addition to Lewis Hamilton, his former Mercedes teammates, George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli, also had strong performances on day two of testing. Russell finished the day in fourth place with a lap time of 1:29.778, just 0.4 seconds behind Hamilton. Antonelli, in his first full pre-season testing session with Mercedes, was fifth fastest, posting a time of 1:29.784.

These results suggest that Mercedes is making strides in the right direction, and despite Hamilton’s switch to Ferrari, the team remains competitive in the midfield. Mercedes will undoubtedly continue to fine-tune their car as the season approaches, with Russell and Antonelli both key players in helping the team remain competitive in the 2024 season.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris

While Lewis Hamilton was enjoying his time with Ferrari, McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris were working hard to improve their car’s performance. The pair finished in 13th and 14th positions, respectively, but neither driver participated in any short performance runs during the testing. As a result, their times might not fully reflect McLaren’s potential for the upcoming season.

Despite not focusing on quick lap times, both Piastri and Norris were focused on making the car faster and improving its overall balance. Norris mentioned that McLaren was working on adding more load to the car and improving its rear stability. While they aren’t expecting to be ahead of Ferrari or Red Bull, McLaren is confident about being close to them from the very beginning of the season.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson

While Lewis Hamilton was testing with Ferrari, Red Bull’s world champion Max Verstappen did not drive during the second day of testing. Instead, team-mate Liam Lawson took over, ending the day as the seventh-fastest driver with a lap time of 1:30.252. Verstappen is expected to return to the track on the final day of testing, and with Red Bull’s strong performance last year, it will be interesting to see how they perform once the reigning champion is back in the car.

The Road Ahead for Ferrari and Hamilton

With Lewis Hamilton showing strong signs of adapting to his new Ferrari, the team is eager to see how their performance evolves as the season progresses. Testing may not provide a complete picture of the competitive order, but Hamilton’s positive comments and the car’s promising performance indicate that Ferrari could be a strong contender for the 2024 Formula 1 season.

Ferrari’s ability to compete with teams like Red Bull, Mercedes, and McLaren will depend on how well they can continue to develop the car and address any issues that arise. Hamilton’s experience and leadership will be crucial in helping Ferrari achieve their goals, and if the team can deliver a fast and reliable car, the 2024 season could be a highly successful one for both Hamilton and Ferrari.

As we approach the start of the season, all eyes will be on Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari to see if they can challenge for the title and reclaim the glory that has eluded them in recent years.