Lewis Hamilton finalizes Pirelli tire testing in Barcelona

Dominika Jordan
Feb 5, 2025, 01:32 PM ET

Lewis Hamilton completes Pirelli tire testing in Barcelona, a key session for Ferrari ahead of the 2025 season kickoff.

Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool

Lewis Hamilton has recently completed Pirelli tire testing in Barcelona at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The tests, which also involved other drivers such as Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, and Oscar Piastri, marked another opportunity for Hamilton to familiarize himself with Ferrari's 2024-specification SF-24 car following his switch from Mercedes.

The session featured rigorous testing over the span of two days, allowing Hamilton and his fellow drivers to clock multiple laps and gather essential data for future tire performance evaluations.

In Formula 1 racing news, a pivotal two-day session of Pirelli tire testing concluded at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, featuring top drivers including Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, and Oscar Piastri. This session provided Hamilton with his third opportunity to pilot a Ferrari following his much-discussed transfer from Mercedes last winter.

The tests were orchestrated by Pirelli, focusing on developing tires suitable for the forthcoming changes in regulations slated for 2026. Hamilton and his new teammate, Leclerc, divided their time on the track on both days. They drove an adapted version of last season's SF-24, tweaked to anticipate the driving dynamics expected with the new regulations.

Hamilton went through 161 laps over the two-day period, notching his fastest lap at 1:15.930 on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Leclerc tallied a similarly impressive 160 laps, with his fastest lap on Wednesday clocking in at 1:14.971.

For McLaren, Norris completed 159 laps in a modified MCL60 with a best time of 1:15.215, while his teammate, Piastri, logged 152 laps, his best time being 1:15.815 on Wednesday. Despite these times, Pirelli clarified that "no real significance" should be attributed to them as each team followed distinct programs set by the tire manufacturer.

This testing stint was Ferrari's second appearance at the Barcelona circuit within two weeks, having conducted a private test the week prior. During that session, Hamilton experienced a crash but emerged without injuries. Before these sessions, Hamilton had his initial run in a Ferrari at the Fiorano track, completing 30 laps as part of a three-day introduction at Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters.

Looking ahead, Hamilton is set to next appear at Ferrari’s vehicle launch on February 19, where the 2025 car will undergo its first trial runs at Fiorano. Subsequently, all ten Formula 1 teams are scheduled to participate in preseason testing in Bahrain from February 26 to February 28, in preparation for the season’s kickoff in Australia on March 16.

The focus on improvements and adjustments remains intense as Pirelli is set to continue their tire testing efforts. The next tests are scheduled for the following week in Jerez, Spain, with Alpine slated for two days on the track and both McLaren and Mercedes participating for a single day each.