In Sakhir, Bahrain, Lewis Hamilton made his debut in the new Ferrari SF-25, recording the fifth-fastest time in the initial session of preseason testing. His former team, Mercedes, has brought on board the talented Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who immediately made waves on the track by clocking the fastest time of the morning session. The 18-year-old Italian sensations, competing among a group of 10 drivers, also completed an impressive 78 laps, matching the best distance covered during this time.
Not far behind, Liam Lawson managed to secure the second-fastest time, trailing Antonelli by just .132 seconds, despite encountering a minor spin. Hamilton, on the other hand, finished .406 seconds off the top, completing 70 laps around the Bahrain circuit. It’s important to note, however, that lap times during testing often do not fully represent the true capabilities of drivers or their cars because of varying testing strategies.
Having switched allegiances this season, Hamilton’s move from Mercedes to Ferrari marks a major shift, considering his impressive tenure with the Silver Arrows spanned 12 years and produced six of his seven world championships. The veteran British driver was introduced to his new team last month and will officially compete alongside Charles Leclerc in the 2025 season. The sight of Hamilton in the iconic Ferrari livery excited fans, as Formula 1 shared the moment with a heartwarming message on its social media platforms: “Lewis Hamilton. Ferrari driver.” followed by a heart emoji.
During Wednesday’s morning session, a single car from each team was permitted on the track at any given time. Joining Hamilton were Red Bull’s Liam Lawson, who is teaming up with champion Max Verstappen this season, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, and Aston Martin’s two-time champion Fernando Alonso.
Two major variables may impact the effectiveness of this year’s preseason testing in forecasting the actual race performance of the teams. First, the conditions on Wednesday were unusually windy and cool for Bahrain, deviating from the typically warm climate experienced during an F1 race weekend. Second, unlike last year, Bahrain will not host the opening race of this season. Instead, the 2024 season kicks off on March 16 with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
