Hamilton Begins Preseason Testing with Ferrari, Antonelli Sets Pace for Mercedes

SAKHIR, Bahrain -- Lewis Hamilton made his debut in preseason testing with Ferrari, achieving the fifth-fastest time in the first session. Meanwhile, his successor at Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, emerged as the fastest driver on the track, showcasing impressive performance as an 18-year-old rookie.

During the morning session, Antonelli not only topped the time sheets but also completed a joint-best of 78 laps. Following closely was Liam Lawson, who finished just 0.132 seconds behind, despite experiencing a spin. Hamilton, driving the new Ferrari SF-25, clocked in 0.406 seconds slower than Antonelli, completing a total of 70 laps.

It's important to note that times recorded during testing may not accurately reflect the true potential of the drivers or their cars due to varied strategies employed by different teams. Hamilton, who transitioned from Mercedes to Ferrari after a remarkable 12-year tenure where he secured six world championships, now joins the Scuderia alongside Charles Leclerc, a driver who has been with Ferrari since 2019.

As Hamilton exited the garage in his iconic red car bearing the number 44, the excitement on social media was palpable, with fans and commentators acknowledging this significant change in his career.

In addition to Hamilton and Antonelli, the morning session included several other notable drivers, such as Oscar Piastri from McLaren and the seasoned two-time world champion Fernando Alonso from Aston Martin. The session faced a temporary setback in the afternoon due to a power outage affecting the pit garages.

This year's preseason testing is particularly challenging for predicting team performance, primarily due to two factors: the atypically cool and windy weather conditions in Bahrain, which diverge from the warmer climate usually expected during race weekends, and the fact that Bahrain is not hosting the season opener, as it did the previous year. Instead, the 2025 season will kick off at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 16.