In brief
In an unexpected incident during pre-season testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton crashed Ferrari's 2023 car, though fortunately, he emerged unharmed. This occurred on Hamilton's second day of testing with the team, as he aims to adapt swiftly to the unfamiliar vehicle. Ferrari is keen on integrating Hamilton effectively before the season opener at the Australian Grand Prix, scheduled for March 14-16.
Ferrari has chosen not to comment on the crash, viewing it as a typical part of the learning curve for Hamilton, who has spent 12 years with Mercedes. The team acknowledges the complexity of adjusting under the current limitations imposed by F1 testing regulations. Drivers are restricted to a maximum of 1,000km of TPC (testing of previous cars) running; Hamilton has already logged 30 laps at Ferrari’s Fiorano track.The team is keeping details of the testing closely guarded, as Hamilton familiarizes himself with Ferrari's protocols and builds rapport with his race engineer Riccardo Adami and other engineering staff. Days before launching their 2025 car on February 19 at Fiorano, Ferrari aims to provide Hamilton with additional testing miles during a dedicated Pirelli tyre test.Next week, Ferrari will hold another two-day testing session at Barcelona, utilizing a modified version of their 2025 car in accordance with new regulations set to take effect in 2026. Meanwhile, McLaren is also engaging in a parallel Pirelli test in France to prepare for their future developments.
