Ferrari are addressing one of Lewis Hamilton’s key Mercedes weaknesses during Barcelona test
At the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, the site of the Spanish Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton is back on track for Ferrari. Following his performance at Fiorano last week, this is his second test for his new squad.
Because of the weather conditions-a chilly, foggy, and wet day-Hamilton was only able to run around 90 kilometers in Fiorano.
But if all goes according to plan, he will get a lot more miles in Barcelona.
The two-year-old Ferrari SF-23 is being driven by the seven-time Formula One world champion. Charles Leclerc, a teammate, is also present.
Every driver will have distinct goals. While Leclerc is mostly regaining his sharpness, Hamilton is attempting to adjust to the team’s procedures both on and off track and establish a cooperative relationship with his engineers.
Although the sequence would be switched on Wednesday, the Monegasque took to the track first on Tuesday.For its full-time drivers, Ferrari has a maximum TPC allotment of 1,000 kilometers spread over four days.
In early February, they will make their way back to Barcelona for a Pirelli tire test. Hamilton will get his first opportunity to test drive the 2024 vehicle, although with modifications to replicate downforce comparable to that of 2026.
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are participating in preparatory lap trials with Ferrari.
Leclerc is helping his team run tests for the next season in addition to removing any rust. Tire management is one of these issues.
Ferrari is only permitted to utilize Pirelli’s “Academy” rubber under the regulations, which is different from the kind they’ll use on race weekends.
However, it’s evident that the crew still believes they can collect crucial data.
Leclerc and Hamilton will use distinct tactics over many practice laps, according to Motorsport Italy.
They will evaluate how well the tires operate under different pressures and temperatures.
In a later stint, Ferrari wants to identify the strategy that provides both grip and durability. This will have two advantages.
What Mercedes communicated to Lewis Hamilton in private about last season’s tire management.
2024 was Hamilton’s worst F1 season to date in terms of qualifying. In the intra-team competition, Mercedes colleague George Russell crushed him 19–5, with an average disadvantage of almost 0.170s.
At one point, the veteran just said that he was no longer “fast,” but his engineers disagreed. They believed his problems had a more precise cause.
In fact, Mercedes cautioned Hamilton in private that he was exerting too much effort on a Saturday. To keep the tires from being overworked, he had to drive at “99.9%.”
Hamilton’s tire work in Barcelona will undoubtedly benefit him ahead of the new season, even though it is ostensibly in the best interests of Ferrari overall.
He could find a fresh strategy that enables him to stay up with Leclerc, who is undoubtedly the quickest driver in Formula One for a single lap.
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