David Coulthard has weighed in on Lewis Hamilton’s private Ferrari test crash, offering a straightforward theory as to why the seven-time World Champion ended up in the barriers.
The 40-year-old Brit completed his first Ferrari test at Fiorano in January, a historic moment that saw fans and media eagerly watching from afar as Hamilton suited up in red for the first time. But it was his second test at Barcelona—a behind-closed-doors session with Ferrari’s 2023 SF-23—that sparked headlines when Hamilton crashed in the final sector of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
While Hamilton emerged completely unscathed, the accident damaged the car’s suspension and aero components and cut short Charles Leclerc’s running for the day. Now, Coulthard believes the explanation is much simpler than people think.
Coulthard: Mercedes-to-Ferrari Engine Change ‘Caught Hamilton Out’
Speaking on the Formula for Success podcast, Coulthard suggested that Hamilton’s crash wasn’t a sign of decline—instead, it was a case of adjusting to Ferrari’s power unit after years of driving a Mercedes hybrid engine.
“I see it as simply as this,” Coulthard explained.
“He has to get used to the control systems in that Ferrari, the power delivery.”
With modern F1 cars running complex hybrid systems, Coulthard emphasized that each team’s power unit delivers energy differently—and Hamilton, after spending over a decade with Mercedes’ system, was simply caught out by Ferrari’s unique hybrid torque delivery.
“They’re dealing with hybrid engines, so it’s not the natural torque acceleration of an internal combustion engine. Electrical energy comes in like that.”
“And I suspect he’s so embedded in his mind about the Mercedes hybrid F1 engine that he was simply caught out.”
Brundle’s Take: Has Hamilton ‘Lost an Edge’ with Age?
While Coulthard chalks the incident up to adjusting to Ferrari’s car, other pundits have raised questions about Hamilton’s form heading into his 19th F1 season.
F1 analyst Martin Brundle recently suggested that the seven-time champion may have lost an edge with age, adding further scrutiny to Hamilton’s Ferrari transition at 40 years old.
However, Coulthard was quick to shut down any overreaction to the crash, pointing out that even the greatest drivers have off days.
“Much was made overnight about his recent test in Barcelona,” Coulthard said.
“He had a small off there—any small off you can call a crash. Going off is an occupational hazard.”
“It doesn’t matter if you were the late great Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, or the current Ferrari driver, Lewis Hamilton. We can all have an off at any certain point.”
Hamilton Bounces Back in Pirelli Tyre Test
Following the Barcelona crash, Hamilton was back in action just days later for Ferrari’s latest outing at the Pirelli tyre test, where he completed 74 laps, matching teammate Charles Leclerc’s total.
While Hamilton’s transition to Ferrari is still in its early stages, one thing is clear: he’s far from slowing down. If anything, the crash might just be a bump in the road—one that he’ll be determined to turn into motivation for his 2025 campaign.