Lewis Hamilton "knew in his head" he wanted to drive for Ferrari one day as far back as 2004, according to team principal Fred Vasseur.

Lewis Hamilton is set to drive the F1-75 car of 2022 in his first Ferrari test at Fiorano ahead of the F1 2025 season.

Italian journalist Roberto Chincero says a “Hamilton mania” has already begun in the country ahead of the 40-year-old Briton’s arrival, which he believes will require a heavy police presence to manage large crowds that are expected to gather on the streets near Ferrari’s headquarters.

Lewis Hamilton’s switch to Ferrari has reportedly divided opinion amongst Ferrari’s Tifosi with expectations for either a “dream team” or a “not easy” period for Charles Leclerc. Hamilton is racing in red this season having signed a multi-year contract to become Leclerc’s newest Ferrari team-mate.

Hamilton is poised to link up with Ferrari for the first time next week following his move from Mercedes for the F1 2025 season. Report: Lewis Hamilton to drive Ferrari F1-75 car

Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna confirms that Lewis Hamilton will report to Maranello next week to prepare for the 2025 season

His immense talent became clear from the early stages of his single-seater career, and a test with the McLaren team in their 2006 car confirmed to the team that he was the right man for their new era, with both Kimi Raikkonen and Pedro de la Rosa departing the Woking outfit.

Toto Wolff does not believe that Lewis Hamilton is past his prime but rather that he is struggling with the latest generation of F1 cars. In a warning to his new employer, Ferrari, the Mercedes chief assessed that the seven-time world champion’s late-braking and aggressive corner entries are mismatched with the desires of the current machines.

Carlos Sainz insists “not everything is roses and perfect” at Ferrari as Lewis Hamilton prepares for his debut campaign with the Scuderia and what the Spanish driver maintains will be a “very special experience”.

Carlos Sainz the driver that Scuderia Ferrari Axed before hiring Lewis Hamilton has issued a warning for the Ace driver Lewis Hamilton