Adami Riccardo promised do something ‘unprecedented’ for Le

Adami Riccardo promised do something ‘unprecedented’ for Lewis Hamilton’s in the next… read more

Lewis Hamilton’s second test with Ferrari was cut short on Wednesday after he crashed during the final sector of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya while driving the team’s 2023 car. The plan for the test was for Hamilton to handle the morning session, after which he would hand over the car to teammate Charles Leclerc for the afternoon. Unfortunately, the crash meant that Ferrari’s mechanics couldn’t complete the necessary repairs in time, preventing Leclerc from driving at all, and bringing Hamilton’s test to an early end.

The precise cause of the crash is still unclear, but it’s believed that a bump on the track might have contributed, suggesting that the accident may not have been entirely Hamilton’s fault. Regardless of the cause, the crash disrupted Hamilton’s preparations for the upcoming Formula 1 season. The test had been designed to help him adjust to Ferrari’s car and setup, making the incident particularly frustrating for the team as they work to optimize their performance for the new season.

According to F1 regulations, teams are limited to just four days of testing with their senior, full-time drivers, and Ferrari has already used three of those days. This leaves them with limited opportunities to conduct further testing before the season begins. While the team is scheduled to return to Barcelona next week for a Pirelli tire test, the focus of that session will be on preparing for the 2026 season. Ferrari will collaborate with tire supplier Pirelli on the development of new tire compounds that will be used in the future, making it clear that the upcoming test will be more future-focused than immediate preparation for the 2025 season.

Ferrari does have the option of staying at the Barcelona circuit for an additional day of testing, but that would come at the cost of Hamilton participating in any mid-season tests later in the year, unless he drives a car that is at least five years old. Ferrari had originally hoped to reserve this extra day for later in the season to give Hamilton more testing opportunities. However, with the crash now cutting into their testing schedule, it’s unclear how the team will adjust their plans moving forward.

Next week’s tire test will be particularly interesting, as Ferrari plans to use an “unprecedented” setup to simulate conditions for the 2026 season. For this test, Hamilton and Leclerc will both drive last year’s car, but Ferrari will modify the car to mimic the expected downforce levels of the 2026 F1 season by using a Monza-style setup. This will mark the first time that Hamilton and Leclerc will share the track during a test session, and it presents an important opportunity for both drivers to evaluate the new tire compounds that will be used in the 2026 season. Ferrari hopes that the test will give them valuable feedback and insights into the future direction of F1, even if it is not focused on the immediate needs of the 2025 season.

The crash has clearly had an impact on Ferrari’s testing plans, but the team is still determined to make the most of their remaining testing days. Despite the setback, they are optimistic that the tire test will provide crucial information for both the current and future seasons. By adjusting their approach and using creative setups, Ferrari hopes to ensure that Hamilton and Leclerc are well-prepared for the upcoming F1 season, even as they also keep one eye on the future of the sport.

With the added complexity of balancing both present and future goals, Ferrari will need to carefully manage their remaining testing opportunities to optimize their performance for both 2025 and beyond. The results of next week’s tire test could play a significant role in shaping their strategy for the 2026 season, while also providing both drivers with valuable data to help them adjust to the Ferrari car and setup.