Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Formula 1
Ryan Smart
The first details of Lewis Hamilton's opening test session as a Ferrari driver have emerged.
Hamilton signed for Ferrari on a 'multi-year contract', effective from the beginning of 2025, in February 2024.
The seven-time world champion will team up with Charles Leclerc this season in search of a record-breaking eighth world crown, which would take him past Ferrari legend Michael Schumacher.
Hamilton will officially represent Ferrari for the first time in pre-season testing in Bahrain next month, though Ferrari have committed to a schedule that will see the Brit drive several versions of their cars in privately-organised sessions before then.
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That testing will fall under F1's Testing of Previous Cars regulations, which allows teams to complete a maximum of 1,000 kilometres of testing each calendar year using drivers who will compete in the upcoming season.
It was expected that Hamilton would test for the team for the first time 'in late January' - and further details of his first assignment have been revealed.
Kym Illman, who is an accredited F1 photographer and has a YouTube channel with over 390,000 subscribers, has revealed details of Hamilton's first appearance as a Ferrari driver.
He says that the 40-year-old is scheduled to drive a Scuderia car at the team's Fiorano test track in Maranello.
The test will take place on either Monday, January 20 or Tuesday, January 21, depending on weather.
Illman also says there will be a 'huge crowd' present around the track, writing to fans on Instagram: "Lewis Hamilton will get behind the wheel of a Ferrari F1 car at the team's Fiorano test track in Maranello.
"I'll be producing a YouTube video about it and I'll be looking for some good quality vision.
"Lewis arriving at/leaving the track, Lewis addressing fans through the track fence, the huge crowd expected in Maranello, traffic jams, signage, fan reaction to the testing and anything that tells a story."
It isn't clear as to how exactly the logistics of the session will work, or if Ferrari will be filming footage to upload to their social media - or how many fans will be let in to watch Hamilton drive for the first time in a Scuderia car.
Hamilton has also yet to publicly comment on his move since it officially came into effect on January 1 - but has engaged with several Ferrari posts on social media and changed his profile picture to an image from his karting days, where he was wearing a red helmet.