What Lewis Hamilton told Ferrari engineers after 124mph crash in Barcelona test

Lewis Hamilton’s preparations with Ferrari for the 2025 season are well underway. But his test in Barcelona was cut short after a crash at turn 12 on Wednesday.

The seven-time champion drove the SF-23 around the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona as part of a TPC test (Testing of Previous Cars). The plan was to run in the morning before handing the car over to teammate Charles Leclerc.

But Hamilton found the barriers at turn 12 in a 124mph impact. The damage was too severe and Leclerc’s run was scrapped. Ferrari did not change the schedule for their test, with Antonio Giovinazzi and Dino Beganovic driving the SF-23 on Thursday.

Hamilton’s crash may have been caused by a bump in the circuit rather than driver error. In any case, the Brit will want to get these crashes out before the season starts in Australia in March.

Leclerc ‘was not too disappointed’ by his day being cancelled early as he knows he can run another TPC day during the season or in the winter. Ferrari will return to Barcelona next week for a Pirelli tyre test and could stay an extra day to run another TPC session.

However, if they do this, Hamilton cannot test mid-season. This is because Ferrari would have hit the 1,000km limit across four days under the regulations.

Lewis Hamilton reported ‘very positive impressions’ to Ferrari engineers in Barcelona despite crash

Hamilton will have an ‘unprecedented’ setup for the tyre test in Barcelona. While testing the 2026 rubber, there will be modifications to simulate 2026 levels of downforce, giving the 40-year-old a taste of what’s to come from the new regulations.

These changes are all to aid Hamilton’s integration into Ferrari. The Maranello outfit are looking to get him accustomed to the team’s operation and understand the car.

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In a report by La Gazzetta dello Sport, Hamilton has ‘become familiar’ with the start procedure and releasing the clutch – something predecessor Carlos Sainz struggled with.

Furthermore, the Brit has become accustomed to the braking system which have ‘different discs than those he used at Mercedes’.

Despite crashing and ending his run early, Hamiton ‘reported very positive impressions’ to the Ferrari engineers, finding the performance to suit his aggressive driving style with his late braking and carrying speed into the corners.

Lewis Hamilton is working on multiple weaknesses with Ferrari in testing

Hamilton comes into the 2025 season off the back of a disappointing final campaign with Mercedes.

Winning two races and collecting five podiums, the 40-year-old recorded the lowest finish of his career in 2024 with seventh. With many concerned about how he will perform at Ferrari, the team are looking to address those weaknesses.

As well as working on starts, Ferrari are also focusing on tyre management with Hamilton – something he struggled with at Mercedes.

Felipe Massa says Hamilton’s age may be a problem at Ferrari given the lengths he will have to go to as a 40-year-old to maintain his fitness.

But Enzo Ferrari’s son Piero Ferrari is not concerned ‘at all’ by Hamilton’s age as he believes his physical and mental fitness will help him shine in Maranello.