Lewis Hamilton has encountered an early challenge in his Ferrari tenure after crashing during a private test session with the team. The 40-year-old, seven-time Formula 1 world champion was participating in a Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) session, where he drove the 2023 Ferrari SF-23—a car that had claimed victory in Singapore under Carlos Sainz but was known for its unpredictable handling. The test aimed to help Hamilton acclimate to Ferrari’s machinery ahead of the new season.
However, on the second day of testing, January 29, Hamilton lost control of the SF-23. Fortunately, he emerged unscathed, but the car sustained damage, requiring repairs to both its suspension and aerodynamic components, according to Motorsport.com. The incident disrupted Ferrari’s testing schedule, preventing Hamilton’s teammate Charles Leclerc from running on Wednesday. Additionally, Leclerc will also miss out on the final day of testing on Thursday, with Ferrari opting to have Antonio Giovinazzi and Dino Beganovic take over driving duties instead.
Despite the setback, Hamilton will have further opportunities to familiarize himself with Ferrari’s cars before the official season begins. He is scheduled to participate in a Pirelli tyre test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya before the official pre-season testing kicks off on February 26. His first competitive appearance for Ferrari will come at the Australian Grand Prix, where he will begin his quest for an unprecedented eighth world championship, aiming to surpass Michael Schumacher’s record.
Interestingly, Hamilton has experienced crashes during test sessions in the past, notably in 2007 with McLaren and in 2013 with Mercedes—both times during his debut with a new team. On both occasions, he went on to win the world championship the following year (2008 with McLaren and 2014 with Mercedes), suggesting this incident could be a positive omen for his future with Ferrari.
The crash may also indicate that Hamilton is already pushing the limits of the Ferrari car and its power unit, gaining a deeper understanding of its handling characteristics. While this time he found the edge a little too soon, it could be a sign of his growing confidence in the car.
For the 2025 season, Hamilton’s race engineer will be Ricardo Adami, who previously worked with Carlos Sainz and four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel. This appointment follows Mercedes’ decision not to allow Hamilton’s long-time engineer, Peter Bonnington, to join him at Ferrari.
