The suspected cause behind Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari crashed

The suspected cause behind Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari crashed has been revealed…read more

Lewis Hamilton’s recent crash during Ferrari’s Testing of a Previous Car (TPC) session in Barcelona has raised attention regarding its impact on the team’s schedule and the suspected cause behind the incident. The team had been running the 2023 SF-23 for a three-day test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, continuing from their previous TPC session at Fiorano the week before. On the second day of testing, Hamilton crashed the car during his run on Wednesday, which resulted in significant damage to the SF-23.

Fortunately, Hamilton emerged from the crash unscathed, but the incident led to the cancellation of the remaining planned running for the day. As a result, Ferrari’s testing schedule was impacted, requiring the team to adjust their plans for the remainder of the test. The crash meant that the originally scheduled mileage for that day was lost, and due to this, Ferrari had to modify their plans for the upcoming sessions.

One of the key factors in Ferrari’s revised approach was the restricted nature of this year’s TPC regulations, which limit race drivers to a total of 1,000 kilometers of testing over a maximum of four days. To make up for the lost running, Ferrari had initially planned for junior driver Dino Beganovic and former F1 driver Antonio Giovinazzi to take over the remaining laps for the day. However, following Hamilton’s crash, the team adjusted the plan and decided to have Charles Leclerc complete the additional laps instead. This decision aimed to ensure that Leclerc, who is an integral part of the team, would still get the necessary mileage in the SF-23, maintaining his readiness ahead of the upcoming season.

Hamilton’s participation in the Barcelona test is now complete, and his next scheduled outing will be on February 4-5. He will take part in a Pirelli tyre test, where he and Leclerc will drive a modified version of the SF-24, often referred to as a ‘mule’ car, in order to evaluate new tyre constructions for the 2026 Formula 1 season. This test will also involve McLaren, as the teams collaborate to test the new tyre specifications ahead of their introduction in the coming years.

This crash is not the first time Hamilton has been involved in an incident during testing with a new team. Back in 2007, Hamilton had a crash while testing with McLaren in Valencia, and a similar incident occurred in 2013 during a test with Mercedes at Jerez. Despite these previous mishaps, Hamilton’s current involvement in Ferrari’s TPC program is an important part of his acclimatization process to the team’s machinery and operations. His time with Ferrari allows him to familiarize himself with the team’s technical aspects and trackside procedures, which will be crucial for his full-time commitment to Ferrari in the upcoming season.

The increasing frequency of TPC sessions has led the FIA to introduce new regulations designed to prioritize the development and experience of junior drivers. These regulations now limit race drivers to just four days of testing and a total of 1,000 kilometers. However, teams still have the option to run up to 20 days of TPC sessions, and the mileage for non-championship drivers remains unrestricted, which allows for the continued development of up-and-coming talent.

In conclusion, while Hamilton’s crash in Barcelona caused a disruption to Ferrari’s testing schedule, it also highlights the importance of the TPC program as a means of preparing both junior and experienced drivers for future seasons. Despite the setback, Ferrari’s quick response in adjusting their plans ensures that their drivers, especially Leclerc, will be ready for the challenges ahead in the upcoming Formula 1 season.