Lewis Hamilton’s highly anticipated transition to Ferrari is in full swing, with the seven-time world champion ramping up his preparations at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. As the Scuderia fine-tunes its 2025 campaign, Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc are logging crucial laps in Ferrari’s 2023 SF-23 machine, capitalizing on the limited testing opportunities available in modern Formula 1.
Hamilton’s first major test with Ferrari
Ferrari’s Barcelona test marks Hamilton’s second on-track appearance with his new team after an initial run at Fiorano last week. While his Fiorano session was brief—completing just 89km of running—Barcelona provides a more rigorous evaluation, allowing Hamilton to get comfortable in Ferrari’s machinery under real circuit conditions.
This three-day program, running under F1’s TPC (Testing of Previous Cars) rules, grants Ferrari up to 1000km of track time, crucial for both data collection and driver adaptation.
Testing schedule and objectives
Hamilton and Leclerc are splitting driving duties across Tuesday and Wednesday, with the order flipping each day. Reserve driver and Le Mans winner Antonio Giovinazzi, along with Ferrari Academy prospect Dino Beganovic, will take over on Thursday to round out the program.
According to reports from Motorsport.it, Ferrari’s primary focus in Barcelona is refining two key performance areas:
- Race Starts: Despite Leclerc’s reputation as one of the best starters on the grid, Ferrari still sees “room for improvement” in its clutch deployment system. Hamilton’s feedback and experience could be instrumental in fine-tuning this crucial aspect.
- Tyre Performance: Ferrari’s 2024 car excelled in tyre management over long stints but struggled to generate immediate grip in qualifying. In contrast, the 2023 SF-23—currently in use for testing—was quick over a single lap but suffered high tyre degradation in race conditions. Understanding these contrasts will help Ferrari strike the right balance with its 2025 challenger.
Hamilton’s integration: Pedal issues, steering wheel adjustments, and team chemistry
Beyond car development, Hamilton’s personal acclimatization remains a top priority. Reports indicated that he encountered pedal discomfort during his Fiorano run, an issue Ferrari has since addressed ahead of the Barcelona sessions. Ensuring that Hamilton is physically at ease in the Ferrari cockpit will be critical to maximizing his performance.
Additionally, Hamilton is using this test to familiarize himself with Ferrari’s steering wheel layout and deepen his working relationship with race engineer Riccardo Adami, who previously worked alongside Sebastian Vettel. Building strong communication channels within the team will be essential as Hamilton transitions from Mercedes, where he spent 11 record-breaking years.
Extra track time for Hamilton: Pirelli test awaits
Once Ferrari’s official test concludes, Hamilton will remain in Barcelona for a crucial Pirelli tyre test on February 4-5. This additional running, featuring a modified SF-24 car on 2026-spec Pirelli tyres, will allow Hamilton even more seat time ahead of the season. McLaren will also participate in this joint test, providing an early glimpse into potential tyre characteristics for the upcoming regulation overhaul.
The road to the 2025 season
With pre-season testing opportunities severely limited, every lap Hamilton completes is invaluable. While Ferrari’s immediate focus is on refining race starts and tyre performance, Hamilton’s true test will come when he finally takes the wheel of the 2025 SF-24 at pre-season testing in Bahrain.
For Ferrari, Hamilton’s expertise represents a game-changing asset as they look to dethrone Red Bull and end their title drought. And for Hamilton, this Barcelona test is just the beginning of what could be one of the most intriguing chapters of his legendary career.