Lewis Hamilton wish comes true as Ferrari make SF-25 adjustment

Sky F1’s Ted Kravitz has pointed to “very positive signs” for Lewis Hamilton after his initial tests for Ferrari, from how the car drives to how he is seated within the cockpit.

The seven-time World Champion’s seating position became an issue towards the end of his time at Mercedes, commenting that the team’s 2023 challenger, the W14, had its cockpit “too close to the front”, as the driver’s seating position “changes the attitude of the car” and can make it less predictable to drive – a concern Kravitz says is not the case at Ferrari.

Kravitz points out ‘very positive signs’ for Lewis Hamilton ahead of Ferrari debut

Mercedes acted to adjust the seating position for the drivers on last season’s car, the W15, with Hamilton and George Russell taking two victories apiece in the 40-year-old’s final campaign with the Silver Arrows.

A new era is set to begin for Hamilton in Australia as he drives for his third Formula 1 team, having undergone a full pre-season schedule with Ferrari.

Having spoken in a complimentary fashion about his new car, the SF-25, Sky F1’s Kravitz believes the seven-time World Champion is aware of Ferrari’s potential when it comes to a possible push for a record-breaking eighth title.

“There are some very positive signs that Hamilton is enjoying the way the Ferrari drives more than the Mercedes,” Kravitz told Sky Sports F1.

“I think he has got what he wanted in terms of driver positioning within the cockpit. There are no complaints on any side.

Analysis: Lewis Hamilton joins Ferrari from Mercedes for F1 2025

Explaining his first impressions of his new car, as well as comparing what he has driven beforehand, Hamilton told media including PlanetF1.com in Bahrain: “Well firstly, they’re very well built, and massively different in characteristics.

“But rather than just jump into a different car and having it exactly the same, it’s been refreshing to have something different, to learn different ways in which you have to drive the car, different requirements to how you approach corners.

“The engine has a different tone, a different feel, different drivability, and I’ve been driving Mercedes for so long, which was such a great power unit, and it’s great to see that Ferrari also have a great power unit.