Lewis Hamilton will make his Ferrari test debut in January, but it won't be in the team's 2025 car, according to team boss Frederic Vasseur.
Vasseur revealed that Ferrari's 2025 challenger will officially launch on February 19, just a day after the livery showcase involving all teams at London's O2 arena. However, Hamilton's first taste of Ferrari machinery will come earlier, behind the wheel of an older model—reportedly the 2022 car.
"In January," Vasseur confirmed to Sky Italia's Mara Sangiorgio when asked about Hamilton's first test. "It will certainly depend on the weather—January is not an easy month. The available window is not very wide because we have to be ready for the presentation of the car, which will be on February 19."
Vasseur emphasised that the January test is a preparatory step and not intended as a spectacle.
"We don't want to focus on the show," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport during Ferrari's traditional pre-Christmas press gathering. "The launch of the car will be enough, and then we have to focus on the season."
The Ferrari boss played down concerns about Hamilton's readiness, noting his vast experience and the tools available to modern drivers.
"Lewis will only have six weeks from the beginning of January to the car presentation, but he's a driver with a lot of experience. I'm not worried," Vasseur said. "Today, drivers have the enormous advantage of the simulator."
Hamilton's arrival at Ferrari comes after a difficult final season with Mercedes, during which he struggled with confidence and motivation. However, Vasseur expressed optimism about Hamilton's form.
"I feel that Lewis hasn't always been very happy this year," Vasseur noted. "He was probably already a bit focused on the future.
"But I am really convinced that he will be in great shape, as he showed in the last races. In Abu Dhabi as well as Las Vegas, he delivered some great performances. So I'm not worried."
The Ferrari team principal also suggested that Hamilton's presence could motivate Charles Leclerc, who is coming off a strong season.
"I'm happy with what Charles has done this year—he's improved a lot," Vasseur said. "But he can grow even more, particularly in race management. He's fast, and he knows it, but he's on the right track.
"I'm sure he has great respect for Lewis and that he'll absorb all the good out of the situation like a sponge."
As for advice for Hamilton as he embarks on his Ferrari journey, Vasseur kept it light-hearted: "He doesn't need my advice. Maybe I would just tell him not to eat too much pasta."
