Adami Riccardo promised do something ‘unprecedented’ for Lewis Hamilton’s in the next… read more
Lewis Hamilton’s second test with Ferrari came to an early halt on Wednesday after he crashed in the final sector of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya while driving the 2023 car. The plan for the session was for Hamilton to complete the morning portion of testing before handing the car over to teammate Charles Leclerc for the afternoon. However, Ferrari’s mechanics were unable to complete the necessary repairs in time for Leclerc to drive, cutting Hamilton’s test short.
The cause of the crash remains somewhat unclear, though it’s suggested that a bump on the track could have played a role, which would imply that the accident wasn’t entirely Hamilton’s fault. Regardless of the cause, the incident has disrupted Hamilton’s preparations for the upcoming F1 season, as the test was meant to help him adapt to the Ferrari setup.
According to F1 regulations, teams are limited to only four days of testing with senior, full-time drivers. Ferrari has already used three of those days, so the crash has limited their remaining opportunities for valuable on-track time. They’re scheduled to return to Barcelona next week for a Pirelli tyre test, but this time they’ll be focusing on preparing for the 2026 season, as they work with the Italian tire supplier on future tire compounds.
The team also has the option to stay at the Barcelona circuit for an additional day, but if they do, it will prevent Hamilton from participating in any further mid-season tests unless he drives a historic car (one that is at least five years old). Ferrari had initially hoped to keep a day in reserve for later in the season, and with the crash cutting into their testing time, it’s unclear how they will adjust their schedule moving forward.
For next week’s tyre test, Ferrari plans to use an “unprecedented” setup to help simulate conditions for the 2026 F1 season. Hamilton will be testing alongside Leclerc, and they will both be driving last year’s car. However, to simulate the expected downforce levels of the 2026 season, Ferrari will modify the car with a Monza-style setup. This will be the first time Hamilton and Leclerc share the track together for a test, and it will be an important opportunity for both drivers to evaluate the tires and help Ferrari prepare for the next generation of Formula 1 racing.
Overall, Hamilton’s crash has certainly affected Ferrari’s testing schedule, but with the upcoming tyre test and some creative adjustments, the team still hopes to make the most of their remaining testing days before the season begins.
