According to a report in Italian media, Ferrari has planned its schedule for the inaugural running with Formula 1 record-holder Lewis Hamilton.
As a driver, Hamilton has the joint-most titles, along with the most wins, pole positions and podiums in F1, plus several other accolades.
He’s switched from Mercedes after 12 seasons to join Ferrari, F1’s longest-serving and most successful team.
It’s a match-up for the ages and thanks to a report from Italian outlet Auto Racer, Hamilton will arrive in Maranello on Monday, January 20 to get acquainted with his engineers and conduct simulator running.
Among the engineers will be Riccardo Adami, who is set to be the man in Hamilton’s ear during Grands Prix after working with Carlos Sainz and four-time F1 champion Sebastian Vettel before him.
Commencing January 21, Ferrari will conduct a three-day TPC (Testing of Previous Cars) programme at its Fiorano circuit with Hamilton slated to pilot the 2022 F1-75 machine on Wednesday, January 22.
That will mark the first time that Hamilton sets out in a Ferrari F1 car ahead of the 2025 campaign.
Hamilton will be sharing testing duties with team-mate Charles Leclerc with “no special programme” for the seven-time champion.
In addition, the Italian arm of Motorsport.com reports that Ferrari has booked a four-day test at the Spanish GP Barcelona circuit for the end of the month for Hamilton to utilise the maximum allowance of TPC running for an existing driver (1000km) ahead of the new season.
Italy preparing for Hamilton ‘mania’
Italian F1 journalist Roberto Chinchero anticipates fans to travel to Maranello in huge numbers for Hamilton’s testing debut with Ferrari.
“A kind of Hamilton mania has already started in Italy,” he said on the James Allen podcast.
“Since the new year began, there is a big question mark that Italian Ferrari fans are trying to answer – when will the first test of Lewis Hamilton in a Ferrari car take place?
“I cannot imagine the number of people that will be around the track. I’m expecting the Maranello and Fiorano streets will be filled with people.
“I’m expecting something that we haven’t seen in years, so it will be hard work for the police in Maranello.
“But I’m not surprised. All the national media, not only the sports media, are giving a lot of space to the man Lewis Hamilton.
“The mainstream is telling you who is Lewis, his passion and interest, the story of his career and his desire to end this career driving a Ferrari.”
Then, when it comes to racing, two-time F1 champion and motorsport legend Emerson Fittipaldi expects the Italian frenzy around Hamilton to continue.
“The whole [of] Italy is going to stop on Sunday, to watch Lewis drive a Ferrari!” Fittipaldi told talkSPORT’s On Track podcast.
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