Lewis Hamilton's recent foray into Ferrari's pre-season testing program in Spain took an unexpected turn as he crashed the team's 2023 car at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Happening on his second day at the track, the mishap left the seven-time world champion unharmed, though it raises concerns about the adjustment period as he transitions from Mercedes to Ferrari.
Ferrari officials opted not to comment on the incident, emphasizing that they view it as a standard occurrence during Hamilton's acclimatization to the car's unique driving characteristics. The crash comes as the team is working diligently to integrate Hamilton into their operations ahead of the season opener at the Australian Grand Prix, scheduled for March 14-16.
With stringent testing restrictions imposed in Formula 1, Hamilton's opportunities to familiarize himself with the Ferrari are limited. The regulations allow current race drivers to log a maximum of 1,000 kilometers in testing previous cars. Prior to this week, Hamilton managed to complete 30 laps at Ferrari's Fiorano test track on January 22, before shifting focus to the three-day testing event in Barcelona.
Ferrari has been tightly lipped about the details of their testing regimen, though it's clear Hamilton is learning the team's protocols and methodologies while building rapport with his race engineer, Riccardo Adami, and the engineering team. To enhance their preparation, Ferrari plans to reveal their 2025 car at Fiorano on February 19, the day following F1's season launch in London.
Moreover, the team intends to provide Hamilton additional testing opportunities before the official car launch, including a Pirelli-led tire test. Alongside Ferrari's efforts, McLaren is conducting similar testing at Paul Ricard in France, aimed at refining their own preparations for the 2026 season regulations. The pressure is mounting as the clock counts down to the start of the new F1 season.
