Ferrari have implemented ‘strict’ rule for Lewis Hamilton that Mercedes never applied in the Formula 1 paddock

Lewis Hamilton is putting in extensive mileage in the SF-25 in Bahrain ahead of the 2025 season opener in Melbourne next month.

Lap times are nothing to go off in pre-season testing at Sakhir – Hamilton was 13th fastest in his Ferrari on day one. But the seven-time champion’s body language says it all.

Hamilton is ‘reinvigorated’ with Ferrari as he makes his lifelong dream a reality by racing in red. He feels he will have a great chance of competing for his eighth world championship.

The 40-year-old wore Ferrari gear in Bahrain – the first time in an F1 paddock since his move from Mercedes. While that may seem normal as drivers commonly wear their team’s colours, there may be a reason why Hamilton was wearing the team jacket.

The Brit has become something of a fashion icon in the paddock in recent years. Hamilton was often seen wearing extravagant clothing while at Mercedes – but his new team might have put a stop to it.

Ferrari’s ‘strict’ rule on wearing sponsors’ logos may prevent Lewis Hamilton from adorning ‘fashionable gear

Photographer Kym Illman felt it was ‘odd’ seeing Hamilton not wearing ‘fashionable gear’ as he stayed close to the paddock walls and covered his face.

Ferrari are known to be ‘strict’ when it comes to sponsorship. They like their drivers’ wearing the team’s gear to show the logos of the sponsors who are paying ‘a lot of money’ to be associated with the Maranello outfit.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Illman is led to believe Hamilton will not be allowed to wear his iconic clothing in the F1 paddock at Ferrari.

“Normally Lewis would walk straight towards us, he’d be wearing something spectacular and it’ll be quite a show.

“Not today. Instead, he walked alongside the walls and at all times had his hand up near his face. I thought that was rather odd, we haven’t seen that with Lewis for a long, long time.

“To be honest I thought he’d come into wearing fashionable gear, but I’m sure Ferrari have other ideas. And certainly, Ferrari is a peculiar team when it comes to rules and regulations.

“Their sponsors know that they are strict and the sponsors are giving them the money but they come under all sorts of rules and regulations.

“Now Lews is being paid a lot of money if we believe what the reports say and I have no doubt to disbelieve that.

“I think Ferrari have said for this sort of money, you need to wear our sponsors’ logos, they’re paying a lot of money to you.

“To my liking and I did ask a couple of people whether or not we would see Lewis in fashionable gear later this year. And the responses I got led me to believe no.”

What Mercedes are saying about Ferrari’s 2025 car

Hamilton has been working extremely hard at the factory to integrate himself into the Ferrari setup. The Maranello outfit will hope the work pays off with the SF-25 after losing to McLaren in the constructors’ championship by 14 points last season.

But the first day of Bahrain testing left some question marks. Bernie Collins noticed Hamilton was behind midfield drivers in the high-speed corners – suggesting a possible issue in the 2025 Ferrari.

Mercedes issued a worrying verdict on Hamilton’s car claiming it was not ‘very good’ Helmut Marko agreed with the Silver Arrows’ assessment as they themselves displayed solid pace along with McLaren.

It is early doors and any issue can be rectified ahead of the first race in Australia. But it is clear, so far, the top four teams may be closer than previously thought.