Ferrari calls off Leclerc's test after Hamilton's crash, but intends to continue running on Thursday
Ferrari have called off Charles Leclerc's afternoon running yesterday after Lewis Hamilton's crash, but they intend to be back on track with their test drivers Dino Beganovic and Antonio Giovinazzi on Thirsday.
Ferrari's running at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was interrupted on Wednesday after Lewis Hamilton suffered a significant crash on his third day of running with the Scuderia.
Following his first on-track day with Ferrari at Fiorano last Wednesday, Lewis Hamilton continued to rack up more mileage this Tuesday as the Scuderia is ramping up its preparation for the upcoming season.
Hamilton completed his first visit to Ferrari's Italian headquarters last Monday when he met engineers and the staff at the Scuderia's F1 department. The Briton then took part in photo shooting on Tuesday before performing work in the simulator.
The Briton then hit Ferrari's own test track at Fiorano on Wednesday. Even if weather was far from ideal, the seven-time F1 champion carried out some installation laps and start practices before racking up some mileages on slick tyres to end the day with a total of 30 laps.
The 105-time F1 race winner was supported by his mother Carmen, his former trainer Angela Cullen while team boss Fred Vasseur and deputy team boss Jerome d'Amborosio also looked on.
Ferrari has now headed to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya to complete more running with the two-year-old SF-23 in slightly better weather conditions. Charles Leclerc fulfilled driving duties on Tuesday morning, and Hamilton took over the 2023 F1 Ferrari in the afternoon.
The Maranello-based outfit has continued with their on-track program on Wednesday. However, Hamilton suffered a crash which caused significant damage to the modified SF-23. The incident is believed to have occurred around 11 AM in the last segment of the Catalan circuit.
According to the report, Hamilton crashed into the barriers which caused heavy damage to the SF-23. Ferrari were quickly assessing the damage, but finally elected to call off Leclerc's afternoon running to prepare the car for the last day of this three-day test running with the two-year-old machine.
Hamilton and Leclerc will not drive on the last day though as the Scuderia is set to provide its test and reserve driver Antonio Giovinazzi and its F2 junior driver Dino Beganovic with the opportunity of gaining experience behind the wheel of the SF-23.
Next week's tyre testThe Scuderia will remain in Montmelo next week to take part in the Pirelli tyre test. That running will see McLaren also join Ferrari at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya where Pirelli will try out its 2026 products.
The tyre test will mark the first time that Hamilton drives the 2024 F1 Ferrari, the SF-24 as teams are allowed to use their most actual cars during tyre testing.
The 2026-spec tyres will continue to feature 18-inch rims, but the front tyres will be 25mm narrower while the rears will be reduced by 30mm in width compared to the 2025 tyres.
