Formula 1 fans were left stunned as Lewis Hamilton suffered a high-profile crash during Ferrari’s pre-season testingat the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Wednesday.
The seven-time world champion, who recently made a blockbuster switch from Mercedes to Ferrari, lost control of the team’s 2023 car, bringing his second day of testing to an abrupt halt.
What Happened?
Hamilton was unhurt, and Ferrari has downplayed the incident, stating that crashes are not unusual when a driver is adjusting to a new car under strict testing restrictions.
The British driver is still getting accustomed to Ferrari’s machinery after 12 years with Mercedes, and this test was a crucial step in his adaptation process.
Despite the setback, Ferrari has opted to remain silent on the details, focusing instead on ensuring Hamilton gets the maximum track time before the season opener in Australia on March 14-16.
A Tough Learning Curve for Hamilton?
This crash comes at a critical time for Hamilton, who is working hard to integrate himself into Ferrari’s system and develop chemistry with his new race engineer, Riccardo Adami.
Testing opportunities in Formula 1 are extremely limited, and Ferrari is using every available chance to fast-track Hamilton’s familiarity with the team.
So far, Hamilton has completed:
30 laps at Ferrari’s Fiorano test track on January 22
Several sessions at Barcelona alongside teammate Charles Leclerc
With only 1,000km of “testing of previous cars” (TPC) allowed for current race drivers, every lap counts.
More Testing Before the Big Reveal
Ferrari is set to officially launch their 2025 car on February 19 at Fiorano, just one day after F1’s global season launch event in London.
However, Hamilton will get additional running before then, as Ferrari prepares for a Pirelli tyre test on February 4-5 in Barcelona using a modified 2025 car.
Is This a Sign of Trouble?
While crashing during testing is far from unusual, it does raise questions about how quickly Hamilton can adapt to his new surroundings.
Will he master the Ferrari in time for the first race? Or will his biggest career switch come with more growing pains than expected?
