In a surprising turn of events during pre-season testing, Lewis Hamilton crashed Ferrari's 2023 car at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, sparking discussions about his adjustment to the iconic team. The seven-time World Champion, who spent over a decade with Mercedes, was unharmed in the incident that occurred on his second day at the track.
Ferrari has opted not to comment on the incident, but the team approaches the crash with a sense of normalcy, acknowledging that Hamilton is still acclimating to the dynamics of a new car. With the season's start at the Australian Grand Prix from March 14-16 looming, Ferrari is focusing on integrating Hamilton effectively into their operations alongside teammate Charles Leclerc.
Current regulations restrict Formula 1 teams to a maximum of 1,000 km (621 miles) of testing in previous car models, which means the limited pre-season program is critical for drivers' adaptation. Hamilton had previously completed 30 laps at Fiorano prior to this week's efforts in Barcelona.
With ongoing testing, Hamilton is learning the intricacies of Ferrari's methods, working closely with his race engineer, Riccardo Adami, and the broader engineering team. Meanwhile, Ferrari is gearing up to unveil their 2025 model at Fiorano on February 19, following the season launch event at O2 in London. To ensure ample preparation, they will organize additional testing sessions next week at Barcelona to accommodate new regulations set for 2026, which are also being tested by McLaren this week in France.
