Image via ScuderiaFerrari/X
Formula One star driver Lewis Hamilton has crashed his first Ferrari while running test laps in Spain. The British racer was at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya when he pushed the Ferrari SF-23 too far, crashing out in the final section of the test lap. Now people are debating if this is a bad sign or just part of the process.
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Thankfully, Hamilton reportedly wasn’t injured in the crash, although the Ferrari apparently suffered serious suspension damage. Hamilton had been behind the wheel of the SF-23 for just three days, his first one in the documented run in Fiorano. In other words, he still wasn’t all that familiar with the car.
Up close with @charles_leclerc and the SF-23 🔊 pic.twitter.com/m4SjaOT66e
— Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) January 28, 2025
The SF-23 is the car Scuderia Ferrari ran in the 2023 season, so it’s a couple of years old. Hamilton can’t get behind the wheel of the team’s new car for the 2025 season, which hasn’t been officially revealed yet, until February 19. Even once that car is out in the open, Hamilton and other drivers are restircted
Unfortunately, the crash puts Scuderia Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc in a pinch since he needs the car for his own training. The team is reportedly scrambling to make repairs, reports Formula1.com.
That report also claims, without citing specific sources, that Scuderia Ferrari doesn’t think the crash is cause for concern. Instead, they allegedly believe it’s just the price of a driver getting acquainted with a new team.
Next week, Hamilton and the rest of the Scuderia Ferrari team are supposed to train on last year’s cars, also at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
Many are drawing a parallel between this crash and back in 2007 when Hamilton crashed a McLaren while doing test laps in Valencia. He crashed into a tire wall at 185 mph
Racing is a dangerous sport and accidents happen. We think any crash you can walk away from is a good one, in motorsports, that is.
Image via ScuderiaFerrari/X
