Lewis Hamilton Hits F1 Testing Limit, Denied Further Ferrari Runs
Lewis Hamilton has reached the maximum allowance for Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) in preparation for his debut season with Ferrari in 2025. The seven-time Formula 1 World Champion, who joined the Italian team after leaving Mercedes, has now completed his permitted four days of private testing under the FIA’s TPC regulations.
Hamilton Completes TPC Allocation
Ferrari has taken full advantage of the TPC rules to help Hamilton familiarize himself with the team’s systems, engineers, and the SF-23—the car used in the 2023 season. The British driver first got behind the wheel of a Ferrari F1 car on February 23, running at Fiorano, the team’s private circuit.
Following that initial outing, Hamilton headed to Barcelona a week later for a more intensive test. Sharing the sessions with his new teammate Charles Leclerc, the two Ferrari drivers alternated turns in the car. However, their running was cut short when a crash on the second day of testing ended the session prematurely.
Despite the setback, Hamilton returned to Barcelona a week later, this time participating in an official Pirelli tyre test. During this session, both Hamilton and Leclerc were tasked with running a modified SF-24 to assist Pirelli in evaluating prototype tyres for the 2026 season. However, Ferrari also decided to bring out an SF-23 for additional running, further utilizing their TPC allocation.
Leclerc took the wheel of the SF-23 in the morning, marking his third day of TPC testing. Later in the day, Hamilton drove the same car for the afternoon session. This counted as his fourth and final permitted day of testing under the TPC rules, meaning he will not be able to conduct any further private runs in old Ferrari machinery for the remainder of the 2025 season.
Ferrari’s Push for Clarity in Testing Rules
The TPC regulations, which govern how teams can conduct private testing with older cars, have been a topic of debate among teams. Under the rules, active Formula 1 drivers are limited to a total of 1,000 kilometers of running in previous-generation cars, spread over a maximum of four days.
Ironically, Hamilton and Ferrari now find themselves bound by a regulation that was tightened following complaints from several teams, including Ferrari, about Red Bull’s use of private testing sessions in 2023. The controversy arose when Max Verstappen participated in a TPC test at Imola, running a Red Bull RB18 from the 2022 season.
At the time, Ferrari and other rival teams expressed concerns about the potential for excessive private testing to provide an unfair advantage. Their calls for stricter oversight led to the implementation of the current four-day limit that Hamilton has now reached.
What’s Next for Hamilton and Ferrari?
With his TPC allocation now exhausted, Hamilton will have to wait until the official pre-season testing period to continue his on-track preparation for his first campaign with Ferrari. The team will now shift its focus to the upcoming launch of their 2025 challenger and the crucial test sessions before the season opener.
Hamilton’s early runs in the SF-23 have given him valuable experience working with Ferrari’s engineers and getting accustomed to the team’s setup. However, his testing program has now been cut off, reinforcing the limitations teams face under the current regulations.
Despite the setback, Ferrari remains confident in their approach to integrating Hamilton into the team. With official pre-season testing on the horizon, the Scuderia will be hoping that the groundwork laid during these TPC sessions will pay off when the real action begins.
