F1 CRASH: Ferrari CANCELS Charles Leclerc’s Run After Lewis Hamilton’s...read more

Ferrari Cancels Charles Leclerc’s Run After Lewis Hamilton’s crash

Ferrari was forced to cancel Charles Leclerc’s scheduled track session after Lewis Hamilton crashed during the team’s private Formula 1 test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The incident disrupted Ferrari’s carefully planned test schedule, preventing Leclerc from completing his planned running in the SF-23.

The seven-time world champion, who was driving Ferrari’s 2023 car as part of the Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) program, lost control and collided with the barriers. The impact caused significant damage to the car, forcing Ferrari to halt the session and prioritize repairs. With limited time available and the team needing to assess the extent of the damage, Leclerc’s scheduled run was ultimately scrapped.

Hamilton had been using the test to familiarize himself with Ferrari’s operations and build a working relationship with his new engineers ahead of his full-time move to the team in 2025. His crash, however, disrupted Ferrari’s program, leading to a reshuffle of their testing schedule.

Leclerc had been set to take over the car later in the day, with Ferrari aiming to gather crucial performance data and give both drivers equal time behind the wheel. The Monegasque driver’s session was expected to focus on setup adjustments, tire evaluations, and further fine-tuning ahead of the 2025 season. However, with repairs taking priority, the team had no choice but to call off Leclerc’s run.

While Ferrari’s main focus for the test was Hamilton’s adaptation to the team, Leclerc’s participation was also a key part of the program. Missing out on track time means Ferrari will need to rely on data from previous runs and future test opportunities to continue refining their approach for the upcoming season.

Ferrari had originally booked the Barcelona circuit for three days to maximize its preparation ahead of the 2025 season. However, with one day lost due to Hamilton’s accident, the team’s ability to extract the most from this private test has been impacted.

Despite the setback, Ferrari remains optimistic about the insights gathered from the test. The team will now focus on analyzing the data collected from Hamilton’s and Leclerc’s previous runs while looking ahead to upcoming test sessions, including official pre-season testing.

While Leclerc may have missed out on additional laps this time, Ferrari is expected to provide him with further opportunities to fine-tune his preparations as the 2025 season approaches. The Scuderia will now regroup and ensure that both drivers are in the best possible shape when they return to competitive racing later in the year.