Ferrari driver and seven-time Formula 1 champion, Lewis Hamilton crashed the SF-23 during the team's pre-season test at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona. The British driver made the switch to Ferrari from Mercedes last year and even got a few runs in the 2023 challenger at the team's private track in Fiorano last week.Â
How exactly did Lewis Hamilton crash the SF-23 during Ferrari's pre-season test?
To make himself comfortable with the team and its machines, both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc went to Barcelona to test the previous year's car. After sharing duties on Tuesday, January 28, Hamilton opted for the morning session on Wednesday, January 29 to get a hang of the Prancing Horse car under him.
However, Hamilton crashed the SF-23 in the barriers which made it difficult for Leclerc to feature in the afternoon session.
According to Motorsport Italy, Hamilton crashed the car in the fast right-hander in Turn 12 in the final sector after the high-speed section of the track. There were rumors surrounding that Ferrari might change its schedule for Thursday, January 29 to give Hamilton more track time.Â
But, it was not the case as the Italian Giants stuck to their original plan with the reserve driver Antonio Giovinazzi and junior star Dino Beganovic taking the SF-23 for a spin. Before the start of the Formula 1 2025 season, Hamilton will get another shot next week at the Pirelli test where he will get to drive the last year's challenger SF-24.
Former F1 driver's blunt take on Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari
Former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya feels that Ferrari will be in control of things and not Lewis Hamilton. Montoya thinks that Hamilton would have been a 'protagonist' in any other team present on the grid but not at Ferrari.Â
The thing I find fascinating about Lewis at Ferrari is that today, he could be put in any team other than Ferrari, and he would be the protagonist. But nothing is bigger than Ferrari, so I think the way they will control and manage it will be very interesting, Montoya said.
It will be fascinating to see how Ferrari manages Lewis because, at the end of the day, Ferrari will always be in control. Hamilton is a megastar, but Ferrari is Ferrari, Montoya added.
Lewis Hamilton has joined Ferrari on a multi-year deal that will see him at the team till the end of the 2026 season with an option to extend for another season.