Hamilton conducts wet-weather tyre test at Ferrari's Fiorano circuit
During F1's break, Lewis Hamilton is testing for Ferrari at their Fiorano track, completing 142 laps of wet-weather running for Pirelli. The session helps his integration with his 2025 team and gathers crucial tyre data ahead of the season's resumption in Miami.
Lewis Hamilton is using Formula 1's April break to get more familiar with his future team, completing a two-day Pirelli tyre test for Ferrari at their Fiorano test track. The seven-time world champion logged 142 laps on the first day, focusing on wet and intermediate tyre compounds on an artificially soaked circuit.
Why it matters:
This test is a valuable opportunity for Hamilton to continue integrating with the Ferrari team and its operations ahead of his highly anticipated move in 2025. For Pirelli and the Scuderia, gathering data on the 2024 tyres in controlled wet conditions is crucial for future development, especially with unpredictable weather often impacting race weekends.
The details:
- Hamilton's first day of running at the short Fiorano circuit covered 423 kilometers, with his quickest lap time recorded as a 1:01.031.
- The session was dedicated to wet-weather testing, with the track artificially watered to allow runs on both the full wet and intermediate tyres.
- The test follows a positive start to Hamilton's final season with Mercedes, which included a podium finish at the Chinese Grand Prix.
- His early-season form impressed F1 TV analyst James Hinchcliffe, who included Hamilton in his top-five "most impressive drivers" list for the first part of the year, noting his competitive drive in Australia.
What's next:
Hamilton is scheduled to continue the test program with Ferrari and Pirelli on Friday for a second day of running, which will again focus on wet-weather tyre performance. After the test, the F1 season resumes with the Miami Grand Prix on the first weekend of May, where Hamilton will return to driving for Mercedes.