Last Updated on January 31 2025, 9:59 am

Lewis Hamilton and his first tentative steps as a Ferrari driver has filled the column inches of the F1 press during another long winter break. The seven times world champion was mobbed on his first day in Maranello, but the ever savvy Lewis a political opportunity bagged some political backing as he was showed around the factory as the Ferrari Group president, John Elkann was there to accompany him as a kind of affirmation for any doubters.

Hamilton immediately struggled with the set up of the Ferrari pedals in the SF-23 he tested for 92km in Fiorano. The team worked furiously to adapt the two year old F1 car in time for the next outing this week in Barcelona.

Both Leclerc and Hamilton shared the testing at the Circuit de Catalunya, where the former Mercedes driver continued his education on the intricacies of how the Ferrari F1 power train operates at its optimum.

 

 

 

High speed crash for Lewis

On the final day in the Catalan city, Hamilton had clearly built a level of confidence in the car but as he completed the final sector around one of the quickest corners on the track, he locked up and sent the car hurtling across the short gravel trap and into the barrier.

The impact was high end, yet such was the security at the circuit no pictures emerged. Suffice to say the damage was too great for the mechanics to repair the car for Charles Leclerc’s planned runs in the afternoon.

When Lewis jumped ship from McLaren to Mercedes he was still in his late twenties and the vagaries of the difference of driving styles required were relatively simple to for Hamilton to adjust to. Yet for twelve long years he has had the run of the Brackley team who know his every wish and whim and can adapt quickly to any requests.

Hamilton is now 40 years of age and has proven with the advent of the ground effect cars, in terms of driving style he’s a little set in his ways. As Toto Wolff revealed in the Autumn of 2024, the problem Lewis has had since the big rule change in 2022, is he can’t corner as he used to and the lack of confidence under braking then spirals the performance gap between him and his team mate.

Herbert and the revival of a racing marque

 

 

 

Ferrari working on Hamilton braking technique

Speaking to AMuS Wolf said: “He [Hamilton] brakes late and throws the car aggressively into the corner. The car and the tyres can’t handle that. With these cars, it is sometimes better to drive at 98 percent. And that applies even more to qualifying than the race.”

Hamilton was crushed 19-5 in Grand Prix qualifying by Russell in 2024 yet in racing conditions there were glimpses of the Lewis of old. His determination to hang on to win the British Grand Prix was epic as Verstappen closed in at over a second a lap on much fresher rubber.

According to Spanish publication Marca, Ferrari’s prime objective at the Montmelo circuit this week was to “perfect their data recollection and interpetation methodology,” and in Hamilton’s case to better adjust himself to the Brembo brake discs used by the Scuderia.

Hamilton has spent twelve years using Carbon Industries’ braking systems while at Mercedes. It was denied contrary to rumour that Hamilton had asked if the team could switch his car to Carbon Industries product.

They’re back! Return of a racing legend

 

 

 

Concerns over Italia racism

The Scuderia fan site clearly had its spies at the track, although no pictures were forthcoming. They described Hamilton’s driving style as smooth, similar to the departing Carlos Sainz, while Leclerc unconcerned by a slippery back end has a better feel when th car is breaking loose than does Hamilton.

Most importantly Lewis was seen repeatedly practicing ‘trail braking’ which all racing drivers understand, yet it appears in the modern era of F1 car design this technique is more important with the less stable cars than in previous times.

When Hamilton announced he was leaving for Italy, there were whispered concerns in certain quarters of the paddock who were concerned given the racial prejudice still prevalent in one of the top football leagues in Europe.

Just last season top Italian side AC Milan were led off the pitch by their goalkeeper due to racist chants directed toward him by opposing fans at Bluenergy Stadium in Udine, Italy. The incident occurred during an Italian Serie A match against Udinese in the 33rd minute.

F1 boss predicts more trouble for Horner

 

 

 

Ferrari new livery a nod to Hamilton’s diversity programme

Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, the 28-year-old Maignan, who is Black, said he heard “monkey noises” and chants from the crowd the moment he took the ball for his first goal kick, and again on the second goal kick. Lewis himself has suffered the exact same racist chants early in his career in Spain. This has been the basis for Lewis diversity campaign launched following the death of criminal George Floyd when was killed by policemen in the USA and captured on film by an onlooker.

The protests led by Hamilton following Floyds death, sparked some controversy as certain drivers refused to take the knee as Hamilton wished. Further, Mercedes abandoned their name sake liver of the ‘silver arrows’ which dates back to the 1950’s in favour of an all black car to demonstrate their support for their driver’s values.

It has been suggested that Hamilton had suggested during his negotiations with Ferrari, they run a similar style livery to the one Mercedes had designed. The colour would be predominantly black, but as Mercedes retained some of their silver heritage, Ferrari too would deploy the Maranello red paint here and there as highlights.

The Scuderia have released a tease over the 2024 livery with the first photograph of Hamilton and Leclerc in their new overalls. The race suit features a darker shade of red than used in previous years, but not as deep as the colours for Ferrari’s 1000th race.

The flashes of yellow from last year’s livery were completely gon. The final livery will be revealed at F1’s first big collective car launch in February, before Ferrari plan their own launch back in Italy for th fanatical tifosi.

Vertappen the transfer that ignites F1

 

 

 

 

Newey criticises Red Bull technical team

Adrian Newey called time on his longest run with a Formula One team during his long an illustrious career as an F1 car designer. After much speculation, Newey announced his departure from Red Bull Racing in May 2024 amid speculation of a rift between him and Christian Horner.

Whilst the reason behind the supposed trouble relationship was never properly explained, Horner and Newey were rarely see together during the entirety of last season but of course the expected platitudes were exchanged when Newey made public his deacons to ‘take a sabbatical.’

F1 historians will know Newey used a similar phrase when he decided he was leaving McLaren, then within weeks it was announced he would be joining Red Bull Racing back in 2006. Similarly this time around the ‘sabbatical’ was short lived once Lawrence Stroll had rolled out the red carpet and his bank account to secure the services of F1’s most successful designer….READ MORE