After spending 12 seasons with Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton got his first taste of Ferrari machinery during a private test at the team’s Fiorano track last week. He completed 30 laps in the 2023 SF-23, using the session to familiarise himself with Ferrari’s car and operations. His neweammate Charles Leclerc also took part, completing 14 laps, though his running was limited by poor weather.

This week, Hamilton’s preparations continued at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where Ferrari arranged another private test. On a cool but sunny day, Leclerc was the one to start in the morning, with Hamilton then taking over in the afternoon, running in the 2023 challenger once again.

The goal of this test was to help Hamilton settle into his new team, adjust to the cockpit, and work on details like pedal feel and steering wheel settings. Ferrari engineers are already planning further adjustments to create a steering wheel tailored to Hamilton’s needs, building on his feedback from Fiorano.

The testing programme is part of Ferrari’s plan to make full use of the 1,000 kilometres allowed under Formula 1’s Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) rules. With Hamilton and Leclerc having covered only a small portion of this allowance at Fiorano, the team has plenty of mileage left for the Barcelona sessions. Hamilton is expected to continue running until January 30, working closely with the team to get comfortable with the car and refine its setup.

Hamilton’s schedule doesn’t stop there. He will stay in Spain for a two-day Pirelli tyre test on February 4 and 5. This session will involve driving a "mule" car, a modified version of last year’s SF-24 designed to simulate the performance levels of F1 cars set to debut in 2026. These next-generation cars will include significant changes such as 50% electrification, fully sustainable fuels, and active aerodynamics.

Adapting to a new team always comes with challenges, and Hamilton’s move to Ferrari is no exception. Early tests revealed some niggles with the car’s setup, but Ferrari is working hard to address these issues and help Hamilton settle in.

With the first official pre-season test in Bahrain just a month away, Hamilton and the team are focused on building a strong foundation for the year ahead. The partnership is still in its early stages, but both Ferrari and Hamilton are eager to make it a success.