MANAMA, Feb 26 (V7N) — Lewis Hamilton is set to get his first real taste of Ferrari’s performance when Formula One’s three-day pre-season testing kicks off in Bahrain on Wednesday.

The seven-time world champion, who switched from Mercedes at the end of last season, will not only get to see how his SF-25 compares to the competition but also measure himself against new teammate Charles Leclerc.

The Bahrain test is the only pre-season session before the Australian Grand Prix opens the 2025 24-race calendar on March 16—a first season-opener for six of the 20 drivers.

A wave of excitement surrounds Hamilton's arrival at Ferrari, and all eyes will be on how he fares in his first official session with the Scuderia, running alongside rivals on track.

The last time Hamilton experienced such a first-day test with a new team was in 2013, when he joined Mercedes from McLaren—a move that ultimately led to six more world titles.

While Hamilton has admitted he is not a fan of pre-season testing—often calling it repetitive—he has expressed genuine excitement for this occasion.

He has joked about "eating plenty of pizza" since arriving in Italy but insists he feels fitter and more energized than ever as he aims for a record-breaking eighth world championship.

Defending champion Max Verstappen, chasing his fifth consecutive drivers' title, will also hit the track on Wednesday in the Red Bull RB21—the team's first car since star designer Adrian Newey left for Aston Martin.

Verstappen and New Zealand’s Liam Lawson, who has previously competed in 11 races as a stand-in, both completed a limited-mileage filming session on Tuesday before splitting driving duties on the first test day.

While Hamilton settles in at Ferrari, his 18-year-old Italian replacement at Mercedes, Kimi Antonelli, will share first-day testing duties with experienced teammate George Russell.

Several rookies will also get a chance to impress, including:

  • Jack Doohan (Australia, Alpine)
  • Gabriel Bortoleto (Brazil, Sauber)
  • Isack Hadjar (France, Racing Bulls)
  • Oliver Bearman (Britain, Haas)

Although Doohan and Bearman have already made their F1 race debuts, this will be their first full-time season on the grid.

Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz, who vacated Hamilton's seat at Ferrari, will focus on racking up laps with Williams as he prepares for a fresh start.

Testing will be open to fans on Thursday and Friday, with Bahrain’s Sakhir Circuit also set to host the country’s Grand Prix in April.

Unlike last year, when Bahrain opened the season, the race has been moved back in the 2025 calendar to accommodate Ramadan.

END/SD/RH/