SAKHIR, Bahrain – Lewis Hamilton expressed his excitement about driving his Ferrari after finishing the second morning of Formula One’s preseason testing in Bahrain near the top of the timesheets.
The seven-time world champion ended the session second overall, just 0.031 seconds behind Carlos Sainz, the driver he replaced at Ferrari. Sainz, now with Williams, will make his debut for the team when the season begins in Australia on March 16.
“I’m truly enjoying the car,” Hamilton said at Bahrain’s Sakhir circuit. “I believe we are gradually forming a connection.”
Hamilton completed a full run-plan on the first day of testing, describing it as an “average day” but productive. By the second day, he had focused more on working closely with his engineers to fine-tune his understanding of the car’s setup.
“Today involved somewhat more exploration of my interaction with my engineer,” he explained. “However, up to this point, I truly love driving this vehicle.”
Last season, Hamilton often struggled with the handling of his Mercedes, making his initial experience with Ferrari’s SF-24 a welcome change. He has been gradually adjusting to his new team and car, focusing on learning the car’s various settings and suspension configurations.
“We’re primarily concentrating on our work and not paying attention to everything else occurring,” Hamilton said. “We’re essentially ensuring that we understand our procedures in the vehicle.”
“With each lap and every session I complete, I am gaining a deeper understanding of the car and becoming increasingly at ease with the various distinct control systems in place.”
He highlighted the importance of familiarizing himself with Ferrari’s technical systems, including the rear and front suspension settings, as well as the specific terms used by his engineers.
“It enjoys being driven in a different manner,” Hamilton said. “And that’s an enjoyable experience, discovering that… I sense that the car is reacting to my commands. Today was a good day, and we made progress with the setup in small increments.”
Adapting to the Ferrari SF-24
Hamilton’s preseason testing runs have provided a glimpse into his adaptation process with Ferrari. As he continues to adjust to the SF-24, he has been testing different configurations and refining his driving approach to match the car’s strengths.
The Ferrari garage has been busy analyzing data, making adjustments, and working closely with Hamilton to optimize performance. The team has been focusing on balancing the car’s aerodynamics, tire management, and power delivery to maximize its potential.
During the morning session, Hamilton completed multiple runs, improving his lap times with each stint. His ability to match the pace of Sainz, despite being new to the team, has been a strong indication of his quick adaptation.
Ferrari’s Setup and Performance Adjustments
Ferrari engineers have been working with Hamilton to make setup refinements that suit his driving style. The SF-24 has shown strong potential in early testing, with Hamilton feeling more comfortable in the car as he completed more laps.
Hamilton has been exploring different suspension settings and fine-tuning the car’s braking balance. These adjustments will be critical as he prepares for his first race with Ferrari.
The team has also been evaluating tire performance over long runs, with Hamilton providing feedback on how the car handles under different track conditions. The focus has been on ensuring a strong balance between straight-line speed and cornering stability.
Strong Preseason Showing for Ferrari
Ferrari’s performance in preseason testing has been encouraging, with both Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc delivering competitive lap times. The SF-24 has been showing good speed and reliability, positioning Ferrari as a strong contender for the upcoming season.
Hamilton’s transition to Ferrari has been a major talking point in the F1 world, and his early results suggest that he is quickly adapting to his new environment. His ability to match Sainz’s time so early in testing indicates that Ferrari’s car could be competitive from the start of the season.
Preparing for the Season Opener
With preseason testing set to continue, Hamilton and Ferrari will keep refining the car’s setup before the first race in Melbourne on March 16. The team will focus on optimizing race pace, tire strategies, and aerodynamic efficiency in the remaining test sessions.
Hamilton’s early impressions of the Ferrari SF-24 have been positive, and the team will be looking to build on that momentum heading into the season opener. As testing progresses, Ferrari will gather more data to ensure they are fully prepared for the first race of the season.
