BREAKING: Hamilton Trails Rivals as Barcelona Tyre Test but...read more

BREAKING: Hamilton Trails Rivals as Barcelona Tyre Test but…read more

Lewis Hamilton found himself on the back foot as final testing times were confirmed following the last day of running at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The seven-time world champion was joined by Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri as they participated in Pirelli’s tyre testing program at the Spanish Grand Prix venue.

With teams gathering data on future tyre compounds, Hamilton’s pace was overshadowed by his counterparts, as Leclerc and Piastri both posted competitive times. The session allowed all three drivers to assess the modified setups used to simulate the reduced downforce expected under 2026 regulations.

Despite being outpaced, Hamilton’s test was valuable in helping him further adapt to Ferrari machinery ahead of his full-season debut with the Scuderia. Meanwhile, McLaren continued their extensive testing program, with Piastri taking over from Lando Norris, who had topped the timesheets earlier in the week.

While outright lap times were not the primary focus of the test, Hamilton’s relative pace compared to Leclerc and Piastri will raise questions about his adjustment period at Ferrari. However, with the official pre-season testing yet to come, there remains ample time for the British driver to fine-tune his performance before the 2025 campaign gets underway.