Revealed: Lewis Hamilton will finally drive a Ferrari for the FIRST time this week in secret test drive at the Fiorano Circuit… as he begins his dream £50m-a-year life at the Scuderia

  • Hamilton will say hello to the staff on Monday and spend full time on the simulator
  • The seven-time champion will head to Ferrari’s Fiorano test track on Wednesday
  • Fans are expected to turn out in droves for the first sighting of him in a Ferrari car

Lewis Hamilton will embark on a lifelong dream on Monday when he makes his first appearance at Ferrari’s Maranello factory following his £50million-plus one-year move to the Italian giants.

The seven-time world champion has waited almost a year for his chance to pass through the famous factory gates since his blockbuster deal was announced last February.

Mail Sport understands he will say hello to staff today and have fun on the simulator before heading to Ferrari’s Fiorano test track on Wednesday, subject to an adjustment if bad weather intervenes.

Avid Ferrari fans are expected to turn out in droves for the first sighting of Hamilton at the wheel of the scarlet car.

Although the test will be private and Ferrari remains deliberately secretive about the exact route, it will be possible to see Hamilton through the trees.

He will drive an old Ferrari, probably the 2023 car – the latest model allowed under the TCP (testing of previous cars) rule, which allows a driver 1,000 km (620 miles) of internal practice.

Lewis Hamilton will say hello to the Ferrari staff on Monday and spend full time on the simulator

The seven-time world champion then goes to the test track and driver Ferrari for the first time

The seven-time world champion then goes to the test track and driver Ferrari for the first time

Hamilton will make his debut as Charles Leclerc's teammate at the Australian Grand Prix on March 16

Hamilton will make his debut as Charles Leclerc’s teammate at the Australian Grand Prix on March 16

The Brit is expected to step up his acclimatization program in Barcelona at the end of this month. He will also take part in the official F1-wide test in Bahrain next month, in the new 2025 car, before making his racing debut as Charles Leclerc’s teammate at the Australian Grand Prix on March 16.

Hamilton, who turned 40 this month, has replaced Carlos Sainz in what is seen as one of the most exciting transfers in F1 history. He is chasing an eighth world title, but has only won three times since losing the championship to Max Verstappen in 2021.

Ferrari CEO Benedetta Vigna confirmed Hamilton’s appearance at Maranello would fall this week, adding: ‘Changes are always nice.

‘We are preparing the last things. There is a lot of expectation. We are prepared for almost anything. It’s all in place.