Lewis Hamilton has copied 'obsessive' tradition from legendary Ferrari driver during his first week at Maranello

Lewis Hamilton could be seen imitating a former Ferrari driver this week as he visited the team’s dedicated test track in Fiorano as part of a special pre-season immersion programme.

The seven-time world champion, who will partner with Charles Leclerc this year, got behind the wheel of a Ferrari SF-23 for the first time on Wednesday morning.

Hamilton completed 30 laps of the test track in Fiorano – and his lap times were compared to the likes of Charles Leclerc and Michael Schumacher, who previously recorded a time of 55.999, set in Ferrari's title-winning F2004 car.

It was later reported that Hamilton's Ferrari was hampered by pedal issues and the Brit had to try 'various adjustments to the pedals throughout the test without finding a solution', which led to him making a number of mistakes.

Italian publication Motorsport claimed he locked up at the first corner and the hairpin, which meant he was close to running into the run-off area.

All eyes were on Ferrari's base in Maranello ahead of his long-awaited debut.

And another report from Motorsport noted how Hamilton could be seen following in the footsteps of former Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel by using a notebook.

Sebastian Vettel is said to have obsessed over his 'precious' notebook at the start of his spell with Ferrari as the German filled page after page with detailed comments about Scuderia's 2015 single-seater.

BMW's former team principal Mario Thiessen once recalled how Vettel would diligently take notes about every session before bringing them to the next race.

“In general I love to take notes,” Vettel said in 2020. “I take digital notes with an iPad a bit now, but I prefer just pen and paper. When you write with a pen, it’s like you write it into your head, you remember it."

He added: "I still have notebooks from 2007 and so on. They are useless now, but they are still there. They are all stacked up in a bookshelf.”

It is said Hamilton was seen drawing a sketch for track engineer Riccardo Adami to show how the pedals will have to be adapted to his ergonomic needs.

"The two pedals, in fact, have the shape of the sole with lateral reinforcements in which the foot almost fits so as to never lose contact," the report reads.

Hamilton could be seen taking notes throughout. Image credit: Ferrari

Hamilton is expected to have a competitive car at Ferrari, given the Italian constructor's strong finish to the 2024 season, where they narrowly missed out on the title.

F1 legend Martin Brundle has since given his take on Hamilton's move.

"There are some big challenges, his team-mate Charles Leclerc has been there seven years effectively and knows exactly where the buttons are, and who does what, and makes things happen," Brundle told Sky Sports.

"Lewis will have to face that, and the fact Leclerc is incredibly fast. But I have no doubt that if Ferrari have a race-winning car or a championship-winning car, then Lewis can win races and even the championship."

Brundle added: "He's got all the experience, and his energy and enthusiasm will be re-energised by the whole experience. He will not be overwhelmed driving a Ferrari like so many drivers have.

"And let's not forget, despite not being a Ferrari driver, the Italian fans, known as the Tifosi, adore him. They cheered him even when he was winning in a Mercedes."