Janice R. Andrews
Lewis Hamilton suffered a crash on the second day of his private Formula 1 test with Ferrari at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, according to Autosport. The incident occurred around 11 AM local time in the third sector of the track. Fortunately, the seven-time world champion walked away unharmed.
Ferrari SF-23 Damaged in the Incident
Hamilton was behind the wheel of a modified Ferrari SF-23, the team’s 2023 car, when he hit the barriers, causing suspension and aerodynamic damage. Ferrari promptly recovered the car and returned it to the garage for assessment.
Leclerc’s Testing Delayed
Teammate Charles Leclerc was set to take over, but repairs to the SF-23 delayed his session. The test is part of Formula 1’s Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) program, which allows teams to run two-year-old cars for up to 1,000 km per season.
Ferrari’s test team, led by Jerome D’Ambrosio and technical director Loic Serra, is working to restore the car while ensuring Leclerc’s cockpit adjustments are in place to minimize further delays.
Hamilton Continues Ferrari Transition
This test follows Hamilton’s Ferrari debut at Fiorano, where he covered 89 km under cold and wet conditions. The Barcelona session was planned to take advantage of better weather as Hamilton familiarizes himself with his new team.
Despite the setback, the test continues until Thursday, giving Ferrari and Hamilton valuable track time ahead of his official switch from Mercedes to Ferrari for the 2025 season.
