Lewis Hamilton’s second Ferrari test came to an early end on Wednesday. Hamilton hit the barriers in the final sector of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where he was driving the 2023 car.
The plan was for Hamilton to see out the morning before handing over to teammate Charles Leclerc in the afternoon. However, Ferrari mechanics weren’t able to get the repairs done in time for the Monegasque to feature.
Hamilton’s accident may have been caused by a bump, in which case it wouldn’t entirely be his fault. But it has clearly affected his preparations for the new season.
Under the regulations, teams are only allowed four days of TPC running with senior, full-time drivers. Ferrari have already used three.
They will return to Barcelona next week, this time for a Pirelli tyre test. They then have the option to stay at the circuit for an extra day.
But if they do so, Hamilton won’t be able to test mid-season, unless he goes back to a historic car (at least five years older). While the winter will be the most important adaptation period, the aim was to keep at least one day in reserve.
Ferrari will use ‘unprecedented’ set-up for Lewis Hamilton tyre test next week
Hamilton and Ferrari will be testing tyres for the 2026 season. For the first time, he’ll share the track with Leclerc.
They will be driving last year’s car, but there will be modifications to simulate 2026 levels of downforce. This means Ferrari will adopt a Monza-style set-up for their cars.
As journalist Rosario Giuliana reports on X, this is ‘unprecedented’. Teams ordinarily use ‘large’ high-downforce wings in Barcelona, a circuit that features a series of sweeping medium-speed corners, to ensure stability.
McLaren have been testing the 2026 rubber at the Paul Ricard circuit in France this week, and despite the wet conditions, they too have trimmed downforce from the car. What’s more, the overall weight has been reduced by around 30 kilograms.
This will give Hamilton a taste of what he can expect in F1’s new era. But it will also be a unique experience with limited learning potential for the season ahead.
Lewis Hamilton is trying to address an issue Carlos Sainz faced in final Ferrari season
Thus far, Ferrari have been in control of their programme. They’ve had mileage restrictions to be aware of, but they’ve been able to use the tests for their own ends.
For instance, Hamilton has been working on starts. Predecessor Carlos Sainz made a net loss relative to his grid position over the course of 2024, so the team are considering a change of procedure.
Next week, Pirelli will oversee the programme. All things considered, Hamilton should view the test as an opportunity to gel with his new engineering team, rather than master the handling characteristics of the Ferrari.
