Ferrari Calls in Specialist After Lewis Hamilton’s High-Impact Crash in Barcelona

Ferrari’s pre-season testing in Barcelona took an unexpected turn when Lewis Hamilton suffered a significant crash, prompting the team to call in a composites specialist to assess the damage. The incident, which halted testing for Charles Leclerc, raised concerns about the chassis integrity of the SF-23 car.

Hamilton’s Crash Halts Ferrari’s Test Session

Ferrari’s private three-day test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was progressing smoothly until Hamilton’s crash on Wednesday morning. Having split driving duties with Leclerc on the opening day, the seven-time World Champion took over the car for the second morning session. However, reports indicate that at around 11 AM local time, Hamilton lost control and crashed into the barriers at high speed, causing severe damage to the car’s suspension and aerodynamics.

Initially, sources speculated that the accident occurred at the tight right-hander at Turn 12, but updated reports suggest it happened at the high-speed final corner, which was restored to its original layout in 2023. Despite the high-impact nature of the crash, Hamilton emerged unscathed, and Ferrari reassured fans that the setback was simply part of testing the car’s limits.

Ferrari Deploys a Specialist to Assess Damage

Concerns over the extent of the damage prompted Ferrari to take immediate action. Reports from Sky Italia and motors-addict.com claim that the team urgently sent a composites specialist from Maranello to Barcelona to evaluate the structural integrity of the SF-23.

Ferrari’s fear was that the chassis itself may have sustained critical damage, making the car unsafe for further testing. Fortunately, after a thorough inspection, the car was deemed fit for continued use, allowing Antonio Giovinazzi and Dino Beganovic to take over the testing duties on Thursday as planned. However, the specialist’s presence highlighted the seriousness of the crash and Ferrari’s commitment to ensuring the car’s safety.

Implications for Ferrari’s Pre-Season Plans

Under F1 regulations, teams can only use cars older than two years in Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) sessions to prevent gaining a competitive advantage. The SF-23, used by Leclerc and Carlos Sainz in 2023, remains Ferrari’s primary TPC model for young driver training.

Hamilton has already completed three of his four allowed TPC test days, following his runs at Fiorano and two sessions in Barcelona. However, due to the crash, Leclerc has only accumulated two TPC days, potentially prompting Ferrari to extend their stay in Spain next week to compensate for the lost time.

Upcoming Pirelli Tyre Test and Future Plans

Ferrari is set to remain in Barcelona for a Pirelli tyre test from February 4-5, with both Hamilton and Leclerc participating. This session will not count toward their TPC allocation, but it will provide Hamilton a rare opportunity to drive the 2024 Ferrari car, modified to reflect F1 2026 regulations for tyre development.

With speculation that Ferrari could prolong their time in Spain to recover lost TPC mileage, all eyes remain on Hamilton’s adaptation to his new team and whether this incident will affect his preparation for the F1 2025 season.

Conclusion

Hamilton’s high-speed crash in Barcelona may have caused a temporary setback, but Ferrari’s swift response and expert assessment ensured that testing could continue. As the team gears up for the new season, all focus now shifts to their upcoming Pirelli test and further refinements to their pre-season preparations.