“Hamilton Provides Positive Feedback to Ferrari...

“Hamilton Provides Positive Feedback to Ferrari…read more

Lewis Hamilton’s preparations for the 2025 Formula 1 season with Ferrari were disrupted during a recent test at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona. The seven-time world champion was testing the SF-23 as part of a Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) session, which aimed to familiarize him with Ferrari’s car and operations ahead of next season. However, his session was cut short after he crashed into the barriers at Turn 12, hitting the wall at 124 mph. The crash ended his session early and caused enough damage that his teammate Charles Leclerc couldn’t take over for his scheduled run.

Despite the setback, Ferrari didn’t alter their testing plans and continued with the session. On Thursday, Antonio Giovinazzi and Dino Beganovic took over the SF-23 for the remainder of the test. It’s believed that the crash was caused by a bump on the track, rather than driver error. Although the incident was a setback, Hamilton is eager to put it behind him before the season begins in Australia in March. Leclerc, whose test session was canceled, was reportedly unfazed, knowing he would have other opportunities to test later in the season.

Next week, Ferrari is set to return to Barcelona for a Pirelli tire test, which could be extended by an additional day for another TPC run. However, if they do this, Hamilton would be unable to participate in any mid-season testing, as Ferrari would have hit the 1,000 km limit allowed for four days of testing under F1 regulations.

Despite the crash, Hamilton provided positive feedback to the Ferrari engineers. He was impressed with the SF-23’s performance and noted that the car suited his aggressive driving style. He felt comfortable with the car’s braking system, which uses different discs than his previous Mercedes car. Hamilton also familiarized himself with Ferrari’s start procedure and clutch release mechanism, something that had posed a challenge for Carlos Sainz before him.

Hamilton’s feedback is essential as Ferrari works to integrate him into the team ahead of the 2025 season. During the test, he also had the chance to experience car modifications that simulate the downforce levels anticipated for the 2026 regulations. Overall, despite the crash, Hamilton’s first impressions of the Ferrari car have been overwhelmingly positive, and he remains focused on refining his connection with the team as the new season approaches.