Lewis Hamilton has made his first official public appearance in Ferrari colours as he arrives at The O2 Arena in London on Tuesday night for F1 75 Live.
Ferrari wunveiled their 2025 car livery this evening, as did the other nine teams, in front of 15,000 people in east London.
Hamilton will then drive the SF-25 tomorrow at Ferrari’s own launch in Fiorano, before pre-season testing next week in Bahrain.
The seven-time F1 world champion, 40, received a rapturous reception in Maranello last month, as his two-year contract at Ferrari began.
Hamilton received a tour of Ferrari HQ, drove the 2023 SF-23 car around the team’s in-house Fiorano circuit and greeted thousands of fans watching on in the industrial Italian town. Hamilton completed 30 laps of the Fiorano circuit, clocking up 89km of driving, as he looked to dial in with the car’s handling and characteristics.
The Brit, who spent 12 years and won six world championships at Mercedes, also took part in a behind-closed-doors test for Ferrari in Barcelona at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya – home of the Spanish Grand Prix – and a Pirelli tyre test at the same circuit.
Ferrari had to alter plans after Hamilton crashed the 2023 SF-23 car in their private test. The 40-year-old was said to be “absolutely fine” after the incident.
Hamilton continued his testing schedule with a tyre test in Barcelona, as part of the tyre manufacturer’s 2026 development programme.
He trailed teammate Charles Leclerc in the lap times on the final day, though any times are largely irrelevant due to the different run programmes each driver was on.
Hamilton spoke glowingly about his first experience in a Ferrari car, describing it as “one of the best feelings of his life.”
“I’ve been lucky enough to have many firsts in my career, from the first test to the first race, podium, win and championship,” he said.
“I wasn’t sure how many more firsts I had but driving a Scuderia Ferrari HP car for the first time this morning was one of the best feelings of my life.
“When I started the car up and drove through that garage door, I had the biggest smile on my face.
“It reminded me of the very first time I tested a Formula 1 car – it was such an exciting and special moment and here I am, almost 20 years later, feeling those emotions all over again.”
The 2025 season starts on 16 March in Australia.
