Hamilton's Ferrari Crash Raises Eyebrows During Pre-Season Testing

The incident occurs as Ferrari works to integrate Hamilton ahead of the F1 season.

Lewis Hamilton has experienced a notable incident during pre-season testing with Ferrari, crashing the team's 2023 car at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain. The mishap occurred on Hamilton's second day of testing, though fortunately, the seven-time world champion emerged uninjured.

Ferrari has chosen to remain tight-lipped about the crash, an event taking place as Hamilton aims to acclimate to the Ferrari setup alongside teammate Charles Leclerc. Insiders suggest that the incident is considered within the realm of typical learning curves, as Hamilton transitions after spending 12 years with Mercedes, especially amid strict testing restrictions that limit drivers.

The team is conducting a carefully controlled testing environment, where current F1 drivers are permitted to complete a maximum of 1,000 kilometers of driving in older models, referred to as TPC (testing of previous cars). Prior to the Barcelona sessions, Hamilton had logged 30 laps at the Fiorano test track on January 22.

Details regarding the ongoing evaluation process remain under wraps, but it is aimed at familiarizing Hamilton with Ferrari's operational protocols and fostering his relationship with race engineer Riccardo Adami. The team plans to officially unveil their 2025 car on February 19, one day following the F1 season launch event at the O2 in London.

As the pre-season progresses, Hamilton is expected to accumulate more mileage in a planned Pirelli tyre test, alongside another two-day testing session at Barcelona on February 4-5 with a modified 2025 car designed to align with upcoming regulation changes for 2026. Other teams, such as McLaren, are similarly participating in tyre tests this week to support Pirelli's development of its 2026 offerings.