Lewis Hamilton's first test session in Ferrari's new SF-25 saw him clock times 0.8 seconds slower than teammate Charles Leclerc at the Maranello circuit on Wednesday.
The seven-time world champion took to the track for his maiden run in Ferrari's 2025 challenger following the F175 launch event.
The testing session marked Hamilton's first opportunity to familiarise himself with his new machinery ahead of the upcoming season.
Leclerc's fastest lap at Maranello was an impressive 56.060 seconds during Wednesday's test session.
The Monegasque driver's time came remarkably close to the circuit's all-time lap record, falling just under a tenth of a second short of Michael Schumacher's benchmark set in 2004.
The performance demonstrated the potential pace of Ferrari's latest challenger, with both drivers getting their first taste of the SF-25.
However, the testing times are not fully representative of true performance, with both drivers using special Pirelli tyre compounds that will not feature in the 2025 season.
Fuel loads and tyre wear data were not recorded during the fastest laps, making direct performance comparisons between the two drivers challenging.
The team will need to design specific setups for each driver based on their individual preferences as they prepare for the season ahead.
Lewis Hamilton replaced Carlos Sainz at FerrariReutersDespite the testing limitations, Ferrari will be encouraged that both Hamilton and Leclerc posted faster times than what the SF-24 achieved at this stage last year.
The team will get a clearer picture of their competitive position during official pre-season testing in Bahrain next week.
However, direct comparisons between the drivers will remain difficult as they are likely to run different programmes at various times throughout the day.
The testing day began early for both Ferrari drivers, who landed in Italy at 4am on Wednesday morning.
Hamilton deliberately stayed awake to watch Leclerc's morning runs, ensuring both drivers had equal amounts of rest before their sessions.
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Lewis Hamilton will be hoping to outgun Charles Leclerc this year
PAThis attention to detail highlighted the methodical approach being taken as the new teammates prepare for their first season together at the Scuderia.
Hamilton will be hoping he can close the gap to Leclerc by the time pre-season testing in Bahrain finishes next week.
The season begins next month in the middle of March in Melbourne.
