With F1’s current regulations now in their fourth year, the performance gaps that gave front-runners comfortable advantages are shrinking fast. Teams that were once struggling to keep pace have had enough time with these cars to catch up on the learning curve. (See: Ferrari and McLaren’s surge last year .)

The British F1 star has been taking Italian lessons, has his motorhome parked next to Enzo Ferrari’s house and is immersing himself in the culture of the Scuderia as he eyes a record-breaking eighth title this year.

Lewis Hamilton says he is “exactly where I’m supposed to be” after an emotional first day on track in Ferrari’s new car. After the previous night’s glitzy Formula 1 season launch in London, Hamilton got behind the wheel of the new Ferrari SF-25 on Wednesday for the first time at the team’s Fiorano test track.