Ferrari is preparing to ‘open’ a new era. Carlos Sainz Jr said goodbye to the team with a shakedown at Fiorano in the F1-75 – whilst Ferrari’s leadership trio of Vasseur-Serra-Gualtieri prepare for 2025 – a year where Championship contention is the aim. On Monday, the Maranello-based team will welcome the arrival of 7-time World Champion, Lewis Hamilton .
The British driver has made no secret of his enthusiasm for beginning this chapter of his career. His visit to the Ferrari garage in Abu Dhabi was an early indication of his excitement.
The era of Hamilton and Leclerc begins at Ferrari: Hamilton holds first conversations with new race engineer
In many ways, Abu Dhabi marked the beginning of a new Ferrari constructed by Frederic Vasseur and John Elkann. The French Team Principal left his mark on the Scuderia in 2024 with big decisions supported by the management that led.
One of the first, and most significant, was to capitalize on a unique opportunity to sign Lewis Hamilton. The Maranello team wants a return to success, as Hamilton aims for an eighth title and first with Ferrari .
During the Abu Dhabi post-season tests, Jerome d’Ambrosio and Loic Serra were present. Serra, Ferrari’s new technical director of Maranello, was also present at the end of year Christmas dinner hosted by Ferrari for journalists.
Other senior figures at the team – Matteo Togninalli, Diego Ioverno, Enrico Gualtieri and obviously Frederic Vasseur, were present.
There is no time to waste. Lewis Hamilton has already immersed himself at Ferrari with an ‘informal’ first visit to Maranello, as revealed by AutoRacer.
His program has already been set with an arrival scheduled for January 20, as Benedetto Vigna confirmed yesterday. In the following days, Hamilton will make his debut on track. The next few days will feature a seat fit, some technical meetings with the engineers, visits to the various departments and general integration into the team before 2025 begins.
Hamilton has already had the opportunity to meet Riccardo Adami, who will become his race engineer in 2025. The 40-year-old spoke to Sebastian Vettel prior to confirmation of Adami’s position.
A thought that has been taken into great consideration by Hamilton, given his esteem for the former Red Bull and Ferrari driver .
The World champion will move near Maranello – to be close to the Scuderia headquarters during the most intense work phases. Simulation work, meetings and track training will be part of a very steep learning curve.
Something that Ferrari can normally do very well with its new drivers.
Bryan Bozzi stays as Charles Leclerc’s race engineer. The first test is scheduled for January 22nd at Fiorano
Alongside confirmation that Adami will be Hamilton’s engineer, the Charles Leclerc and Bryan Bozzi duo is also confirmed . Having replaced Xavi Marcos, the relationship between the Monegasque and Bozzi has gradually grown and improved.
Bozzi was already Leclerc’s Performance Engineer, since 2019, and was promoted to track engineer during the Imola weekend. His contribution was decisive and underlined by Frederic Vasseur for the victory in Monaco with a “decisive and direct” approach.
His team radio message in Monza also left a mark on the Tifosi .
Ferrari is banking on Leclerc’s growing affinity with Bozzi and improved communication over time. Ferrari’s driver pairing and their track engineers have been a strong point for the Scuderia, despite some friction and communication errors seen on the track.
The goal is to improve further for 2025, “in every area” , as Vasseur says . Communication and the operational efficiency can improve with the stability implemented by Vasseur – who in the second part of the season saw the Italian team raise its level.
Next year, the contributions of Technical Director Loic Serra will also be observed . His on-track presence and overall involvement in engineering operations will be crucial.
