This week marks a significant milestone for the Sauber and Racing Bulls Formula 1 teams as they prepare for their 2025 campaigns with extensive testing at Imola. The multi-day event will see both teams utilizing older vehicles to acclimate their drivers, including newcomers Isack Hadjar and Gabriel Bortoleto. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton makes his first public appearance with Ferrari, signaling a new chapter for the legendary team.

Racing Bulls and Sauber Embark on Intensive Testing Program

In the heart of Italy, under the watchful eyes of motorsport enthusiasts, two prominent Formula 1 teams are set to embark on an intensive pre-season testing program. At the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, Racing Bulls will conduct a three-day test using the AlphaTauri AT04 from 2023. Yuki Tsunoda, an experienced driver, and Isack Hadjar, making his debut, will share driving duties. Ayumu Iwasa will also participate on the final day, adding diversity to the roster.

Joining them from Wednesday onward will be the Sauber team, deploying its 2022 C42 car. New signings Nico Hulkenberg and F2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto will take turns behind the wheel over two days. Both drivers have already familiarized themselves with the team during the post-season tests in Abu Dhabi last December. The FIA has imposed strict limits on testing older cars, restricting it to 1000km and four days, ensuring that these sessions focus on training rather than development.

Weather forecasts predict rain on Wednesday and Thursday, which could pose challenges but also provide valuable wet-weather experience for the rookies. Elsewhere, Lewis Hamilton made his first official visit to Maranello, engaging in simulator work and seat fitting, before potentially taking the Scuderia’s 2022 F1-75 for a spin on the Fiorano track alongside Charles Leclerc.

From a journalist's perspective, this pre-season testing phase is crucial not only for the technical preparation of the teams but also for the personal growth of the drivers. For newcomers like Hadjar and Bortoleto, the opportunity to drive in varied conditions offers invaluable experience. As fans eagerly await the start of the 2025 season, these tests serve as a tantalizing preview of what lies ahead, setting the stage for another thrilling year of Formula 1 racing.