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 finally week’s Pirelli tyre take a look at in Barcelona. The seven-time world champion is getting ready for his extremely anticipated 2025 swap and has already racked up important mileage in his new atmosphere.
Transitioning from Mercedes after 12 years, the 40-year-old has needed to rapidly adapt to a wholly new staff, automobile, and operational construction. As a part of Formulation 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.
In the course of the Barcelona take a look at, 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 take a look at, which required them to run a modified model of Ferrari’s 2024-spec automobile.
Ferrari Launched ‘Excessive’ Aerodynamic Adjustments for the Pirelli 2026 Tyre Check
Hamilton’s first style of Ferrari’s 2024 challenger got here with a novel twist—Ferrari made in depth modifications to the automobile to assist simulate the 2026 regulation modifications. It was the primary occasion of Pirelli testing its future tyres on a current-generation automobile tailored to resemble the upcoming engine and chassis laws.
As a part of this take a look at, Ferrari launched a radical alteration to the automobile’s aerodynamics. In line 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 take a look at featured a a lot lower-downforce model—much like the setup they employed at Monza, identified for its high-speed traits.
Along with the rear wing modifications, Ferrari additionally made notable modifications to the entrance wing to additional cut back downforce ranges. The revised entrance wing was based mostly on the model used in the course of the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix, the place Carlos Sainz secured a podium end in third place, with Charles Leclerc ending fourth. The mix of those aerodynamic modifications was aimed toward mirroring a number of the anticipated traits of the 2026 laws whereas additionally helping Pirelli’s ongoing growth of future tyres.
Lewis Hamilton 1.788s Off Charles Leclerc’s Tempo in Barcelona Check
Regardless of the numerous setup modifications, Ferrari’s tyre take a look at outcomes have 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—putting him 1.788 seconds behind his teammate.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri additionally participated within the take a look at, recording a greatest lap of 1:15.815. Nevertheless, as with all tyre checks, lap occasions maintain little significance because of the unknown variables of gas hundreds, tyre compounds, and particular take a look at run aims. Even so, these occasions have been quicker than a number of the laps set in the course of the 2024 Spanish Grand Prix.
For reference, Lando Norris took the quickest lap of the race in Barcelona final 12 months with a 1:17.115, whereas the Monegasque’s greatest lap for Ferrari was a 1:17.897. Throughout qualifying, Charles Leclerc’s greatest effort in Q3 was a 1:11.731—far faster than the occasions posted within the tyre take a look at however achieved below fully completely different circumstances.
Whereas the uncooked lap occasions from the take a look at might not inform the total story, Hamilton’s early outings in Ferrari equipment have given him a helpful head begin in adapting to his new environment. With extra checks and simulator periods forward, the Briton is laying the groundwork for what might be a defining season in 2025.
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