The long wait was finally over recently - Lewis Hamilton debuted for Ferrari.
The seven-time F1 champion completed his first laps for the Scuderia at its home track in Fiorano in the 2023 SF-23, after which team-mate Charles Leclerc briefly got in on the action, albeit stymied by the weather.
However, Hamilton's preparation for the Formula 1 season now gets underway in earnest this week with an important follow-up test at the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona.
Hamilton will again be at the wheel of the SF-23, starting today [Tuesday], through to Thursday, January 30, hoping to gain a better feel for the car after a few niggles last week with the pedals.
Logically, there will always be wrinkles in any new partnership, but Ferrari and Hamilton will hope to iron those out before the three-day winter test in Bahrain on February 26-28.
Hamilton will again be joined by Leclerc over the three days in Barcelona, with the duo racking up mileage as part of the allowed 1,000 kilometres per year for full-time drivers under the TPC [Testing of Previous Cars] regulations, spread over a maximum of four days.
Hamilton completed 30 laps at Fiorano, just under 90 kilometres, and Leclerc 14 laps, or 42 kilometres, so both have plenty left in the tank in Barcelona.
Hamilton will reportedly remain in Spain over the weekend as he is due to participate in a scheduled Pirelli tyre test on February 4 and 5.
That will see the 40-year-old behind the wheel of last year's car which won five races.
Also interesting:
Join RacingNews365's Ian Parkes, Sam Coop and Nick Golding, as they discuss Lewis Hamilton's next two big Ferrari tests and reflect on last weekend's Daytona 24 Hours. Max Verstappen was a big talking point in Daytona, with multiple drivers calling for him to enter.
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