Lewis Hamilton Crashes Ferrari During second Pre-Season Testing in Spain and left the…read more
Lewis Hamilton was involved in a crash while testing Ferrari’s 2023 car during the team’s pre-season testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain. The incident occurred on Wednesday, Hamilton’s second day behind the wheel of the Ferrari, but fortunately, he was unharmed.
The crash happened as Hamilton, who is making the transition from Mercedes to Ferrari, lost control of the car. Ferrari chose not to comment on the accident, which took place during a session where Hamilton was sharing the car with his teammate Charles Leclerc. This crash is seen as part of the learning process as Hamilton adapts to Ferrari’s car ahead of the 2025 F1 season.
Ferrari views the incident as a normal part of the adjustment process for Hamilton, who is still getting familiar with the characteristics of the Ferrari 2023 car after spending 12 years with Mercedes. The team is focusing on integrating Hamilton into their systems and procedures, which is vital as they aim to maximize his performance ahead of the season opener in Melbourne at the Australian Grand Prix, scheduled for March 14-16.
In light of F1’s testing restrictions, Ferrari has limited their testing program for the 2023 car, with drivers only permitted to complete up to 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) of testing with previous car models (TPC). Before this Barcelona session, Hamilton had already completed 30 laps at Ferrari’s Fiorano test track on January 22. Afterward, he joined Leclerc for a three-day testing program at the Spanish track, where they continued to evaluate Ferrari’s car and fine-tune their collaboration.
The limited testing, which is tightly regulated by F1, means that drivers must quickly familiarize themselves with a new team and car under constrained circumstances. Ferrari has not disclosed further details about the testing schedule, though it is clear Hamilton is working closely with his new race engineer, Riccardo Adami, to establish a strong working relationship. This will be essential as Hamilton transitions into his new role with the team.
Looking ahead, Ferrari plans to launch their 2025 car at Fiorano on February 19, following the official F1 season launch event in London on February 18. Additionally, Ferrari will conduct further testing with Hamilton before the official launch, including a Pirelli tire test. On February 4-5, Ferrari will run a modified 2025 car at Barcelona, designed to incorporate the upcoming 2026 regulations. This testing is similar to the Pirelli tire test McLaren is conducting at Paul Ricard in France this week, both aimed at helping Pirelli refine its 2026 tire specifications.
As Ferrari works to fully integrate Hamilton into the team, the focus will be on ensuring the seven-time world champion can make a seamless transition and perform at his best for the 2025 season.
