Lewis Hamilton Will get Early Ferrari Expertise in Pirelli Tyre Check at Barcelona
Lewis Hamilton has wasted no time in getting accustomed to Ferrari equipment, turning his first laps for the Scuderia ultimately week’s Pirelli tyre check in Barcelona. The seven-time world champion is making ready for his extremely anticipated 2025 change and has already racked up important mileage in his new surroundings.
Transitioning from Mercedes after 12 years, the 40-year-old has needed to shortly adapt to a wholly new group, automobile, and operational construction. As a part of Method 1’s *Testing of Earlier Automobiles* (TPC) programme, Hamilton was given the prospect to drive Ferrari’s 2023 SF-23 at Fiorano, the place over a thousand followers gathered to witness his debut in crimson. His first on-track outings have included each personal testing and participation within the official Pirelli tyre programme.
Throughout the Barcelona check, Hamilton suffered an early setback when he crashed at Flip 12 whereas lapping within the SF-23. Nevertheless, this didn’t deter him from getting again behind the wheel, and by Wednesday, he was as soon as once more driving for Ferrari on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. This time, he joined forces together with his future teammate Charles Leclerc for Pirelli’s 2026 tyre check, which required them to run a modified model of Ferrari’s 2024-spec automobile.
Ferrari Launched ‘Excessive’ Aerodynamic Modifications for the Pirelli 2026 Tyre Check
Hamilton’s first style of Ferrari’s 2024 challenger got here with a singular twist—Ferrari made in depth modifications to the automobile to assist simulate the 2026 regulation adjustments. It was the primary occasion of Pirelli testing its future tyres on a current-generation automobile tailored to resemble the upcoming engine and chassis rules.
As a part of this check, Ferrari launched a radical alteration to the automobile’s aerodynamics. In keeping with *The Race*, the Scuderia fitted Hamilton’s automobile with an unusually aggressive rear wing, described as a “fairly excessive” departure from customary configurations. Whereas Ferrari had beforehand opted for a high-downforce rear wing on the 2024 Spanish Grand Prix, the automobile used for the tyre check featured a a lot lower-downforce model—just like the setup they employed at Monza, recognized for its high-speed traits.
Along with the rear wing adjustments, Ferrari additionally made notable modifications to the entrance wing to additional cut back downforce ranges. The revised entrance wing was primarily based on the model used throughout the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix, the place Carlos Sainz secured a podium end in third place, with Charles Leclerc ending fourth. The mixture of those aerodynamic adjustments was aimed toward mirroring a number of the anticipated traits of the 2026 rules whereas additionally aiding Pirelli’s ongoing improvement of future tyres.
Lewis Hamilton 1.788s Off Charles Leclerc’s Tempo in Barcelona Check
Regardless of the numerous setup adjustments, Ferrari’s tyre check outcomes had been removed from reflective of true efficiency. Leclerc clocked the quickest lap of the session with a time of 1:14.971, whereas Hamilton’s quickest effort was a 1:16.759—inserting him 1.788 seconds behind his teammate.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri additionally participated within the check, recording a finest lap of 1:15.815. Nevertheless, as with all tyre assessments, lap occasions maintain little significance because of the unknown variables of gasoline hundreds, tyre compounds, and particular check run goals. Even so, these occasions had been sooner than a number of the laps set throughout the 2024 Spanish Grand Prix.
For reference, Lando Norris took the quickest lap of the race in Barcelona final yr with a 1:17.115, whereas the Monegasque’s finest lap for Ferrari was a 1:17.897. Throughout qualifying, Charles Leclerc’s finest effort in Q3 was a 1:11.731—far faster than the occasions posted within the tyre check however achieved beneath solely totally different circumstances.
Whereas the uncooked lap occasions from the check might not inform the total story, Hamilton’s early outings in Ferrari equipment have given him a useful head begin in adapting to his new environment. With extra assessments and simulator classes forward, the Briton is laying the groundwork for what may very well be a defining season in 2025.
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