The first day of Pirelli’s tyre test in Barcelona provided an intriguing glimpse into Lewis Hamilton’s adaptation to his new team, Ferrari. Despite being in a completely new environment and driving a car unfamiliar to him, Hamilton posted an impressive lap time, just marginally quicker than his new teammate, Charles Leclerc.

However, is this an early indication that the seven-time world champion already has an advantage over the Monegasque driver? That conclusion may be premature, but there were certainly some key takeaways from the opening day of testing.

Analyzing the Lap Times

Hamilton set the fastest lap of the day at 1:15.93, while Leclerc followed closely behind with a 1:16.060. At first glance, the difference is minimal, but without context, these numbers tell us very little.

Several unknown factors could have influenced the results. What compound tyres were each driver using? Were they on similar fuel loads? How did track conditions, such as asphalt temperature, play a role? Additionally, the timing of these fastest laps is another crucial factor—were they set in the cooler morning session or the warmer afternoon runs? All these elements must be considered before drawing any conclusions about Hamilton’s early form at Ferrari.

Hamilton Quickly at Ease in Ferrari

Despite the uncertainties surrounding the times, what is evident is that Hamilton appears to have adapted remarkably quickly to Ferrari’s SF-24. There were initial concerns about how long it would take him to feel comfortable in a completely different car, but his performance in Barcelona suggests he already has a solid grasp of the machine’s capabilities. This will be encouraging news for Ferrari, which has made a significant investment in bringing in a veteran driver who turns 40 this year.

Furthermore, Hamilton’s recent crash did not seem to have any lingering effects on his confidence. Just a week after the incident, he was back on track, pushing the limits of his new car without hesitation. This mental resilience will be crucial as he embarks on his first season with the Maranello-based squad.

The Montoya Perspective

Former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya recently stated that if Hamilton has “the right material” and remains “highly motivated,” he is still one of the top contenders on the grid. Motivation appears to be in no short supply for the British driver, who has spoken openly about his excitement for this new challenge.

His ability to match or even surpass Leclerc’s time on the first day is a strong indicator that he is already feeling at home within the team. Given Leclerc’s extensive experience with Ferrari, it is impressive that Hamilton is keeping pace so soon after making the switch.

Maintaining Momentum into the Second Test Day

As the Pirelli test continues, Ferrari, along with McLaren, will complete the second and final day of running. For Hamilton, this presents another opportunity to solidify his positive first impression and continue gathering valuable data ahead of the highly anticipated SF-25 launch.

Maintaining this “good feeling” with the car is essential, especially with pre-season testing in Bahrain fast approaching. The Bahrain sessions, scheduled towards the end of the month, will provide a much clearer picture of Ferrari’s competitiveness and whether Hamilton truly has the machinery to fight for victories in 2024.

Should everything fall into place, Hamilton will undoubtedly be even more satisfied with his decision to join Frederic Vasseur’s “red crew.” Ferrari fans will be eager to see if the British driver can help return the team to its former glory and mount a serious challenge for the championship.

This article was written in collaboration with Kada Sárközi.

Robert Doornbos has expressed that he “understands” why Red Bull chose to promote Liam Lawson over Yuki Tsunoda, despite the snub. The former F1 driver explained that, ultimately, “the data never lies.”

Yuki Tsunoda was passed over for Liam Lawson

Red Bull appeared to have settled their F1 2025 driver lineup in May of last year when they handed Sergio Perez a two-year contract extension. However, this reassurance about his future didn’t spark the revival the team had hoped for. In fact, it had the opposite effect.

After a promising start to the season, Perez’s performance took a significant downturn. He accumulated 107 points in the first third of the championship, from Bahrain to Monaco, including four podium finishes.

But as the season progressed, his form dipped drastically, and he managed just 45 points in the final two-thirds, from Canada to Abu Dhabi.

This slump not only hurt Red Bull in the Constructors’ Championship, where they finished third, but it also led to Perez losing his seat with the team.

Red Bull and Perez announced their split at the end of the season, with the team confirming the appointment of Liam Lawson as his replacement the very next day. This decision came as a major disappointment for Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull’s longest-serving junior driver.

Tsunoda, who joined Red Bull’s junior team in 2021, had outscored Lawson in their six races together last year but was still passed over for the promotion.

Christian Horner, Red Bull’s team principal, described the decision as a “tight call.” However, he emphasized that Lawson’s potential, having only competed in 11 Grands Prix, meant he would “only get better and stronger.”

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Robert Doornbos discussed the “analytics” behind Liam Lawson’s performance, noting that Lawson’s pace was “slightly better” compared to his competitors.

The former F1 driver, now a pundit, believes Red Bull made the right decision in choosing Lawson over Yuki Tsunoda. He said, “From the options they had, I think it is a sensible choice,” adding that although it was a tough decision for Tsunoda, “you obviously do not make Yuki happy with it.” Doornbos acknowledged Tsunoda’s long tenure with the team, as this was his fifth season, but reaffirmed that “the data never lies.”

Drawing on his experience as a former Red Bull driver, Doornbos argued that the data showed Lawson to be “less risky” and a “more consistent factor.” He added, “Considering his character, his lap times and all sorts of other things that are going on behind the scenes, and that we are not aware of,” he believed Lawson was a wise choice for the team.

However, Doornbos, like many others, is still curious about the reasoning behind Red Bull’s decision not to bring Carlos Sainz into the fold. Sainz, who made his F1 debut with Red Bull’s junior team in 2015 before moving on to Renault, McLaren, and then Ferrari, had hoped to return to Red Bull after losing his Ferrari seat to Lewis Hamilton. But Red Bull chose not to re-sign him.

There had been speculation that tensions between Sainz’s father, Carlos Sainz Snr., and Max Verstappen’s father, Jos Verstappen, during their sons’ time together at Toro Rosso may have influenced the decision. Doornbos remarked, “If you look back even further, then you think: why didn’t you just hire Carlos Sainz and put him in that car? He is a proven Grand Prix winner, who is actually at the peak of his career at the moment.” He concluded by saying, “But we will probably never know what really happened.”

Lewis Hamilton has emphasized the importance of Formula 1 maintaining its connection to its roots and traditional fanbases, even as the sport evolves and its global reach expands. He expressed concern that F1 must remain accessible to everyday people, despite its growing appeal to celebrities and the wealthy.

Under Liberty Media’s ownership and with the success of Netflix’s Drive to Survive series, Formula 1 has experienced a surge in popularity and a wave of new fans. This increased interest has driven the championship into new markets, particularly in the United States, where races in Miami and Las Vegas have drawn significant attention from high-profile figures and affluent audiences.

While Formula 1 has been expanding beyond its European origins for over two decades, recent events in non-traditional locations are being marketed as exclusive and glamorous spectacles. Races like those in Miami and Las Vegas have been criticized for being prohibitively expensive and inaccessible to the average fan.

This trend is not entirely new for Formula 1, which has long featured the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix as a highlight of its calendar. However, Hamilton is acutely aware of the growing perception that these newer events are catering primarily to the elite, potentially alienating the sport’s traditional fanbase.

As the championship continues to grow, Hamilton remains steadfast in advocating for a balance that preserves F1’s accessibility and connection to its core audience while embracing its newfound global appeal.

“The more eyeballs on the sport is not a bad thing,” the 40-year-old told media including RacingNews365.

“I would say that races are like some of the European races, for example, where you’ve got people that are coming, it’s less celebrity [centric].

“There’s still a lot of celebs that do turn up to the grid, but I think we always need to make sure that it’s accessible and it’s not so far out of reach for people that also work very hard for their money but maybe can’t afford it to get to a race weekend.”

Hamilton also addressed diversity and inclusion within F1, underlining the need to continue to more greatly open F1 up to people – and particularly – children from all backgrounds.

The Ferrari driver has been a vocal advocate for social justice and change, both inside and outside of the F1 paddock.

Having established programmes like The Hamilton Commission in partnership with the UK’s Royal Academy of Engineering and Mission 44, the seven-time F1 drivers’ champion is well positioned to lend his voice.

“I think it’s great that this sport is starting to now work on D&I [diversity and inclusion], making sure that giving access to young kids, showing young kids that it doesn’t matter where you’re from, belong here,” he said.

The Angela Cullen effect: Insights unveil the real influence on Lewis Hamilton’s performance

With Angela Cullen rejoining Lewis Hamilton’s inner circle, a sports psychologist has shed light on how her return could provide significant psychological benefits for the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion.

Cullen, who previously stepped away from Formula 1 two years ago, is now back by Hamilton’s side. After spending seven years as his trainer and physiotherapist, Cullen left her role in 2023, seeking to move on from the demands of the sport.

As an employee of Hintsa Performance, Cullen initially began working with Hamilton in 2016 following the passing of Aki Hintsa, a renowned figure in sports performance.

The duo quickly formed a strong bond, with Cullen becoming a constant and reassuring presence during Hamilton’s championship-winning campaigns in the late 2010s and beyond.

Reflecting on their split, Hamilton explained that the intensity of the Formula 1 environment had become overwhelming for Cullen, who is now 50 years old.

Her decision to step away was driven by the need to prioritize her well-being, but her return signals a renewed commitment to supporting Hamilton as he continues his pursuit of success in the sport.

“It’s an incredibly challenging role, I think for anyone in those positions,” Hamilton said.

“It is a lot of travelling and a lot of time away from your family and you grow incredibly close together. If you’re at dinner, during your weekends, and while you’re travelling, it’s usually you, your trainer or physio, your family or whatever it may be, it’s incredibly intimate in that sense, and you become great friends. Angela is living her life right now.

“She’s got so many great ideas of things she wants to do. We talk and message pretty much every day. We’re still going to go skydiving together and we’re always going to be in each other’s lives. We’re stuck with each other, unfortunately, or fortunately!

While neither Lewis Hamilton nor Angela Cullen has officially confirmed their professional reunion, Cullen was spotted in the Ferrari garage at Fiorano during Hamilton’s initial laps around the Scuderia’s test track last week. Reports suggest that Cullen has taken on a role as a physiotherapist within Hamilton’s Mission 44 initiative.