Ferrari Identifies Potential Cause of Lewis Hamilton’s Testing Crash; as a result of…read more
Lewis Hamilton’s crash during his second day of Ferrari testing has raised questions about what caused the incident. While the driver emerged unharmed, the accident disrupted his preparation for his debut with the team, affecting his ability to get valuable track time.
Ferrari has downplayed the severity of the crash in the media, explaining that Hamilton was simply testing the limits of his new car. The team stressed that accidents like this are not uncommon in testing situations, especially when drivers are pushing their cars to understand their performance. Following a more cautious run at Fiorano the previous week, Hamilton was given the opportunity to push harder during the Barcelona testing. At the time of the crash, he was behind the wheel of the SF-23, a Ferrari model from two years ago. The collision with the barriers caused significant damage to the car, particularly the front suspension and some aerodynamic parts. As a result, the car required several hours of repairs before it could return to the track.
Hamilton had been sharing testing duties with his new teammate, Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque driver was scheduled to take over in the afternoon session, but Hamilton’s crash delayed these plans, impacting Leclerc’s time on the track.
Though Ferrari has not explicitly blamed Hamilton for the crash, the circumstances surrounding the incident suggest there may have been more at play than just driver error. The crash occurred in the final sector of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, a section that has recently undergone significant changes. The traditional chicane in that part of the track has been removed, replaced by a high-speed double right-hand turn. According to reports from AutoRacer, the accident was likely caused by a bump in the circuit that may have unsettled Hamilton’s car, causing him to lose control.
The change in the track layout may have played a significant role in the crash. The removal of the chicane and the introduction of the faster, more demanding right-hand turns means that the new section presents a different challenge to drivers compared to the previous configuration. The bump reported by AutoRacer could have disrupted the car’s balance, especially when Hamilton was pushing the limits of its performance. This suggests that while Hamilton was undoubtedly testing the boundaries of the SF-23, the new track features might have also contributed to the incident.
While Ferrari remains focused on repairing the car and preparing for the upcoming season, the crash serves as a reminder of the risks involved in pre-season testing. Drivers often push their vehicles to the limit in order to gather data and fine-tune their setups for the season ahead. However, with track layouts evolving and new challenges emerging, these testing incidents can provide valuable insights into both the car’s performance and the track’s demands.
Despite the setback, Ferrari’s priority will be to get Hamilton back on track and continue his preparations. The team will also likely review the impact of the circuit changes to ensure the car’s setup is optimized for future sessions, as Hamilton and Leclerc continue their testing programs in the lead-up to the new season.
