Hamilton's crash disrupts Ferrari, Leclerc misses out

Ferrari’s preparations for the 2024 Formula 1 season hit a snag on Wednesday as Lewis Hamilton’s crash during testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya brought an early end to the team’s running.

The incident, which occurred at Turn 12 around 11am, caused significant damage to the front end of the SF-23, including the suspension and bodywork, forcing the Scuderia to abandon its plans for Charles Leclerc to take over driving duties in the afternoon.

The session was part of Ferrari’s allocated 1,000km of ‘Testing of Previous Cars’ (TPC) under the current F1 regulations.

Each team is permitted four days of running with their previous season’s car, shared between their race drivers.

Ferrari had already completed 131km at Fiorano last week with Hamilton and Leclerc behind the wheel of the 2023 challenger, and the team had hoped to maximize its track time in Barcelona this week.

Hamilton’s shunt disrupts Ferrari’s schedule

Hamilton’s off at Turn 12, a high-speed corner that has caught out many drivers over the years, left the team with a substantial repair job.

While Ferrari’s mechanics worked tirelessly to rebuild the car, the process took longer than anticipated. By the time the SF-23 was ready to return to the track, daylight had faded, leaving no opportunity for Leclerc to complete his planned running.

As a result, both Hamilton and Leclerc have left Barcelona, with Ferrari’s final day of testing on Thursday now set to feature reserve driver Antonio Giovinazzi and Ferrari Driver Academy member Dino Beganovic.

The duo will share driving duties in the SF-23, giving Beganovic valuable experience in an F1 car ahead of his expected Free Practice 1 appearances later this season.

Beganovic Steps Into the Spotlight

Beganovic, a 20-year-old Swede, has been part of the Ferrari Driver Academy since 2020 and is currently competing in Formula 3.

Having secured the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine title in 2022, he has now met the 40-point threshold required for an FIA superlicence.

His participation in FP1 sessions this year will help Ferrari fulfill the sporting regulations mandating that teams field rookie drivers on four occasions across the season.

The young driver’s inclusion in Thursday’s running underscores Ferrari’s commitment to nurturing talent within its academy.

However, the truncated schedule means Hamilton and Leclerc will have to wait for another opportunity to gain more mileage in the SF-23.

Ferrari’s Next Steps

With only one day of TPC running remaining for 2024, Ferrari faces a decision on how to allocate its final 1,000km allowance.

The team could opt to use the Pirelli tire test scheduled for February 4-5 at Barcelona to extend its stay and complete the fourth day of running.

McLaren is also set to participate in the test, which could provide a valuable opportunity for both teams to gather additional data ahead of the new season.

Hamilton’s crash not only disrupted Ferrari’s plans but also highlighted the challenges teams face in balancing limited testing opportunities with the need to prepare for the upcoming campaign.