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Hamilton Reaches Testing Limit, Blocked from Further Ferrari Runs
Lewis Hamilton has hit the FIA’s limit for Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) ahead of his much-anticipated 2025 Ferrari debut. The seven-time Formula 1 champion, who moved to Ferrari after leaving Mercedes, has now completed his four allowed days of private testing under TPC regulations.
Hamilton Maximizes TPC Sessions
Ferrari made full use of the TPC rules to help Hamilton adapt to the team’s operations and the SF-23, their 2023 car. His first run in a Ferrari F1 car took place on February 23 at Fiorano, the team’s private circuit.
A week later, he traveled to Barcelona for more intensive testing, sharing track time with his new teammate, Charles Leclerc. However, a crash on the second day cut short their session. Despite the setback, Hamilton returned to Barcelona for an official Pirelli tire test shortly after. During this event, he ran a modified SF-24 to help evaluate prototype tires for 2026. Ferrari also used the opportunity to run the SF-23, utilizing more of their TPC allowance.
Leclerc drove the SF-23 in the morning, marking his third TPC test day, while Hamilton took over in the afternoon. This counted as his fourth and final permitted day of private testing, meaning he can no longer drive older Ferrari F1 cars in private sessions for the rest of the 2025 season.
Controversy Over Testing Rules
The TPC regulations limit active drivers to four days of testing with older cars, capped at 1,000 kilometers in total. These restrictions became stricter following concerns about Red Bull’s private test sessions in 2023.
Ironically, Ferrari was one of the teams that pushed for tighter rules after Max Verstappen took part in a TPC session at Imola, driving a 2022 Red Bull RB18. Rival teams, including Ferrari, argued that such sessions could provide an unfair advantage, leading to the introduction of the current four-day limit—now affecting Hamilton.
What’s Next for Hamilton?
With no more private testing available, Hamilton’s next chance to drive a Ferrari F1 car will be during the official pre-season tests. His early sessions in the SF-23 have allowed him to build familiarity with Ferrari’s setup and engineers, but further track time is now restricted until pre-season testing begins.
Despite this limitation, Ferrari remains confident that Hamilton’s initial testing runs have helped lay the groundwork for a strong start to the 2025 season.
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