Ferrari have just made a peculiar Charles Leclerc decision for their latest test after Lewis Hamilton…read more
Ferrari has made an unusual decision regarding Charles Leclerc’s involvement in their latest testing sessions following a crash by Lewis Hamilton in Barcelona. Hamilton is currently back in action with Ferrari as part of a Pirelli tyre test for the upcoming season. This week, Hamilton is getting his first taste of the 2024 Ferrari car. He had previously driven the 2023 SF-23 car at Fiorano, Ferrari’s private test track in Maranello, and followed it up with a second outing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for another test session. Unfortunately, Hamilton was unable to complete his programme during the Barcelona test after crashing into the barriers. Near the end of one of his laps, Hamilton lost control of the car and damaged it heavily. Although the seven-time world champion was unharmed, the incident meant that Leclerc, who was scheduled to drive in the afternoon session, couldn’t get out on track.
However, both Hamilton and Leclerc have now returned to the Spanish Grand Prix venue this week to resume their testing and make up for lost mileage. Ferrari has decided to implement a very special setup for the two-day test, which is expected to be quite unprecedented. This is because Pirelli aims to simulate the higher levels of downforce expected in the 2026 season while testing their new tyres. As a result, the Ferrari drivers will need to adapt to the challenge of handling a high-downforce configuration on a track that typically sees lower downforce setups. The rear wings used in this test will resemble the ‘skinny’ wings commonly seen at Monza, creating a distinctive test scenario for both drivers.
For this unique test, Hamilton was the first to take to the track on Tuesday morning, driving a specially prepared “mule” car. Leclerc is set to take over the car in the afternoon session. The two drivers may also alternate their running order on Wednesday to ensure both complete their scheduled test time. In addition to Ferrari’s drivers, McLaren is also participating in the test, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri joining the session. McLaren already conducted a wet tyre test in France the previous week, so their focus in Barcelona will likely be on different aspects of Pirelli’s 2024 tyre development.
In summary, Ferrari’s latest test in Barcelona, which follows the crash involving Lewis Hamilton, will see both him and Charles Leclerc running a unique set-up to simulate future downforce levels. The two drivers will share the track in this important test to evaluate tyres for next season, while McLaren’s drivers also join the session to contribute to Pirelli’s testing programme.
