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Hamilton and Leclerc Absent as Ferrari Conducts Key Barcelona Test
Ferrari’s highly anticipated testing session at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is currently underway, but reports from Italian media confirm that Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are absent from a crucial part of the program.
The three-day test, conducted under Formula 1’s Testing of Previous Car (TPC) regulations, allows teams to run their 2023 challengers for data collection and driver familiarization. Ferrari is using this opportunity to gather valuable insights, with both Hamilton and Leclerc having already driven the SF-23 earlier this week. However, their participation on the final day, January 30, remains uncertain.
Italian outlet AutoRacer reports that not all team members are present at the test, as some have returned to Ferrari’s headquarters in Maranello. It is unclear whether Hamilton and Leclerc have also departed or if they will continue their work in Barcelona. GPFans has reached out to Ferrari for confirmation regarding their involvement.
Young Talent Takes the Wheel
On the third and final day of the test, Ferrari reserve driver Antonio Giovinazzi and academy prospect Dino Beganovic will take over driving duties. Giovinazzi, who raced in Formula 1 for Alfa Romeo from 2019 to 2021, has remained part of the Ferrari setup since leaving the grid and serves as their official reserve driver.
Meanwhile, Beganovic, a 21-year-old Swedish driver, is making his first appearance in F1 machinery. As a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, he recently secured two wins in Formula 3 and is set to compete in Formula 2 this season. His performance in this test could be a stepping stone toward a potential Formula 1 future, following in the footsteps of fellow Ferrari junior Ollie Bearman.
While this session serves as a valuable training opportunity for Giovinazzi and Beganovic, Hamilton and Leclerc are set to return to testing duties soon. The duo will be back in Barcelona at the start of February for a separate Pirelli test, which focuses on evaluating prototype tires designed for the 2026 regulations.
With Ferrari’s preparations for the 2025 season in full swing, the absence of their lead drivers at the current test raises questions. However, their scheduled participation in upcoming sessions suggests that the team remains on track with its pre-season program.
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