Frederic Vasseur outlines plan for Hamilton’s Ferrari arrival with first test set to come in previous car

Frederic Vasseur has revealed that Lewis Hamilton is likely to make his maiden Ferrari on-track appearance in one of the squad’s previous Formula 1 cars when he completes his move from Mercedes over the winter break.

Hamilton and Ferrari created headlines around the world earlier this year when it was announced that the seven-time world champion is to join the Maranello outfit from 2025 onwards – taking Carlos Sainz’s place alongside Charles Leclerc.

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Hamilton has three races remaining at Mercedes, whom he joined in 2013, before swapping the Silver Arrows for the Scuderia, though it has yet to be confirmed where and when the Briton will be seen in Ferrari colours for the first time.

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A groundbreaking launch event at London’s The O2 to kick off the 2025 campaign and F1’s 75th anniversary year will be held on February 18, before all the teams head to the Bahrain International Circuit for pre-season testing from February 26-28.

Now, Ferrari team boss Vasseur – who worked with Hamilton during his 2006 title-winning GP2 season – has explained that Ferrari are likely to use “one or two” ‘Testing of Previous Cars’ (TPC) days to help their new driver bed in.

Under F1’s TPC rules, teams can run cars that are at least two years old, meaning 2022 machines – the first built for the latest ground effect era – have been permitted at the restricted test days since the start of this year.

Speaking to Autosport about Hamilton’s impending arrival, and when he might drive a Ferrari for the first time, Vasseur began: “I’m not sure that he needs tons of hours of acclimatisation.

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“He is experienced enough to be quick on the first day, or at least very soon. We’ll have one or two TPC days, plus the test in Bahrain, and that will be enough.”

Vasseur added that while Ferrari are working to finalise a programme for Hamilton, he is focused on the remainder of the 2024 season as his team attempt to overhaul McLaren for what would be a first constructors’ title since 2008.

“For sure we have part of the team already focusing on ’25, on the test plan, on the communication and so, with Lewis being part of this,” he commented. “But not on the race team and it’s not on my mind.”