THE SIR AND THE CRASHED HORSE IN BARCELONA

Written by: Floyd Nkanyane

In a stunning turn of events at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Formula 1 legend Lewis Hamilton experienced his first setback in a Ferrari kit, when he crashed the team’s 2023 car during pre-season testing. The incident, which occurred on January 29, 2025, marked only Hamilton’s second day behind the wheel of the prancing horse, though the seven-time world champion emerged unscathed from the mishap.

The crash comes as Ferrari races against time to integrate Hamilton into their ecosystem before the season opener in Australia this March, following his sensational departure from Mercedes after 12 years. While Ferrari has maintained a tight-lipped stance about the incident, insiders suggest this is merely part of the learning curve as Hamilton adapts to the unfamiliar characteristics of his new machinery.

Operating under F1’s strict testing limitations, which allow drivers only 1,000km of testing in previous-year cars, Hamilton’s journey with Ferrari began at their iconic Fiorano test track on January 22nd. The testing program has him sharing driving duties with teammate Charles Leclerc as he works to build crucial relationships with his new race engineer, Riccardo Adami, and the broader Ferrari technical team.

The drama is set to continue as Ferrari prepares to unveil their 2025 challenger at Fiorano on February 19th, following F1’s season launch spectacle at London’s O2 arena. Before then, Hamilton will get another chance to prove himself during crucial Pirelli tire testing sessions in Barcelona next week. He will pilot a modified version of the 2025 car designed to simulate upcoming game changing 2026 regulations.