Lewis Hamilton injury scare avoided on eve of Ferrari F1 debut

Falling off your Formula 1 car would have been a very bizarre way for Lewis Hamilton to injure himself ahead of his Ferrari debut.

But, thankfully for the seven-time World Champion, it was a case of no harm done ahead of next weekend’s F1 2025 season-opener in Melbourne

moving ever closer to his first experience of going racing with Ferrari, the Australian Grand Prix set to get the season underway from March 14-16.

But, before that, there was just enough time for Hamilton and new team-mate Charles Leclerc to hit the streets of Milan to dazzle the watching tifosi.

And it was as Hamilton acknowledged the passionate Ferrari crowd that he nearly slipped and slid his way into trouble.

A video has emerged showing Hamilton standing on the front nose of a parked Ferrari F1 challenger, waving to the crowd, and as he takes a step, his right foot makes contact with the top of the tyre, causing him to slide off.

Maybe, if you’re saying the McLaren is the fastest car, it could be a Norris Piastri, Piastri Norris first and second. And I would say that George Russell has got a great chance of being third.

“But that Mercedes is quick. Watch out for Kimi Antonelli, the 18-year-old Italian driver, great to have an Italian back in Formula 1.

“When all the attention is on the man who went from Mercedes to Ferrari, it might be an Italian driver, not in a Ferrari, who manages to get on the podium.”

He added: “That Mercedes is quick. I would put it behind the McLarens in terms of where they are on the grid.

“And maybe ahead of the Ferraris earlier on.”