Ferrari cuts short Leclerc and Hamilton’s Barcelona test

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Ferrari has cut short the testing programmes of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona following the Briton’s crash on Wednesday.

The three-day test at the Spanish track, organized under the prescriptions of Formula 1’s 'Testing of Previous Cars' (TPC), which limits teams to 1000km per year spread across four days for their current race drivers, followed up on last week’s 131 km run at Fiorano with Leclerc and Hamilton.

However, an incident involving the seven-time world champion occurred on Wednesday morning at Barcelona’s Turn 12 that caused significant damage to the front suspension and bodywork of the SF-23, the car fielded by the Scuderia for the TPC test.

Leclerc was due to take over for the afternoon session, but repairs to the SF-23 took longer than anticipated.

By the time the car was ready, daylight was fading, making it impossible for the Monegasque to complete any laps.

Giovinazzi and Beganovic Take Over

While Ferrari has remained in Barcelona, both Hamilton and Leclerc have returned home. Scuderia reserve driver Antonio Giovinazzi and academy member Dino Beganovic have taken over driving duties for Thursday, the final day of testing.

Beganovic, a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy since 2020, has been steadily working toward securing his FIA superlicence.

Read also: Hamilton crashes Ferrari on second day of testing at Barcelona

The Swede, who won the Formula Regional European Championship in 2022 and finished sixth in the last two Formula 3 seasons, needs to complete 300km in an F1 car to finalize his eligibility.

He is expected to feature in Free Practice 1 sessions for Ferrari this year, as teams must field rookie drivers in at least two sessions per car during the season.

Ferrari academy member Dino Beganovic.

Wednesday’s minor setback leaves Hamilton and Leclerc with only one remaining TPC test day in 2025.

According to Motorsport.com, Ferrari may utilize the upcoming Pirelli tyre test at Barcelona in early February, which McLaren will also attend, to extend its stay at the venue and complete its maximum TPC mileage.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.