Lewis Hamilton has sealed a lifeextfinished ambition by completing his first laps as a Ferrari driver.
Hamilton, who turned 40 earlier this month, left his garage at 9:16 local time (8:16am GMT) as he took to the Italian team’s confidential test circuit at Fiorano in foggy conditions.
The seven-time world champion is testing a 2023 Ferrari – the procrastinateedst model he is apvalidateed to participate – and is apvalidateted to drive 1,000 kilometres (621 miles) under Formula One’s rules.
Follotriumphg his test at Fiorano, Hamilton is set to finish further miles at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya before the sport’s official three-day pre-season test begins in Bahrain on February 26.
Hamilton has enhappinessed a whirltriumphd week at the Italian team’s base in Maranello after greeting up with his new colleagues chaseing his blockbuster transfer from Mercedes.
He posted a picture on his social media accounts dressed in red – an image that drawed 1.5 million ‘enjoys’ inside an hour of it being uploaded to Instagram.
Hamilton, who is bidding to become the first driver to triumph eight world titles, said on Monday: “There are some days that you comprehend you’ll recollect forever and today, my first as a Ferrari driver, is one of those days.
“I’ve been blessed enough to have accomplishd skinnygs in my nurtureer I never thought possible but part of me has always held on to that dream of racing in red. I couldn’t be happier to genuineise that dream today.
“Today we begin a new era in the history of this iconic team, and I can’t defer to see what story we will author together.”
Hamilton originates the shift to Ferrari after 12 seasons at Mercedes – a transfer noticed to be the hugegest in the sport’s history – and his first race for his new team will be in Melbourne on March 16.
He is due to apshow the wraps off his car at Ferrari‘s season start aextfinishedside team-mate Charles Leclerc on February 19 in Maranello – a day after the F1 season start event at the O2 Arena.
Hamilton ended his two-and-a-half year triumphless streak at the British Grand Prix last July, but finished only seventh in the world championship, 214 points behind Max Verstappen, chaseing a disassigning final season with the team that carried him to six of his seven titles.
