How Hamilton's first Ferrari test played out

Lewis Hamilton's first Ferrari Formula 1 test at a damp Fiorano was wrapped up after 30 laps on Wednesday, as the seven-time champion began his on-track work at his new team.

Amid intense interest from the global media and the hundreds of Ferrari fans who packed vantage points around Ferrari's test track, Hamilton's first outing - which covered 89km - ended just before lunch.

Hamilton emerged in an SF-23 - the most recent car he is allowed to test under F1's 'testing of previous cars' rules - at exactly 9.16am, but the damp circuit prompted a slow installation lap on Pirelli's demonstration wet tyres.

Hamilton was clearly aware of the significance of the moment for the tifosi, though, as he waved to the fans during this initial lap.

After returning to the pits for regular car checks, Hamilton then embarked on a series of short runs that will have helped him get to know some key characteristics of ground effect Ferrari cars.

His first run of 10 laps was conducted on wets, and included a couple of practice starts to help him get to grips with different procedures.

After a short break, and with the track drying, Hamilton then went for his first slick tyre run on the hard Pirelli test tyres.

The circuit seemed to offer little grip and Hamilton was observed to have had a couple of lock-ups during this 10-lap run, briefly running wide at one point, before he did further practice starts.

Hamilton returned to the pits before embarking on a final run, this time for around five laps, before a scheduled break for lunch.

After exiting the car, Hamilton took time out to get a lift down to the far end of the Fiorano test track to greet the fans who had packed the overpass near the circuit from the early hours of the morning.

With bad weather blowing in and rain falling, Hamilton's day of running duly came to an end as Ferrari switched over the car for Charles Leclerc, who completed some running in the wet in the early afternoon.

Although Hamilton completed around 100 kilometres of running, no more than was previously done on a filming day, it will have been enough for him to get his first understanding of Ferrari car traits.

The squad has not yet announced when Hamilton will test again but it is possible he could get another run out at Fiorano prior to a test that is scheduled for Barcelona later this month.