Ferrari confirms reserve driver tests after Hamilton crash

Hamilton’s crash in Barcelona won’t disrupt Ferrari’s pre-planned testing, as the team focuses on evaluating reserve drivers for 2025.

Lewis Hamilton continues to push the limits of his new single-seaters as he adapts to Ferrari. The seven-time F1 world champion drove the SF-23 at Fiorano last week and is now driving the same 2023 car in Barcelona.

Of course, this is not the car he will have for the 2025 season, but it allows him to familiarize himself with Maranello’s design philosophies and discover the Scuderia’s turbo hybrid V6 engine.

On Wednesday, during the second day of testing in Barcelona, Hamilton had an accident in the final section of the Catalan circuit. The Prancing Horse car crashed into the barriers, damaging the suspension and bodywork elements.

The impact was not severe, and the driver was not injured. Although some media headlines suggest the British driver needs rest, this is not the case, and the fact that neither he nor Charles Leclerc is driving on Thursday had long been planned by the Scuderia.

Indeed, Ferrari will be testing two drivers to confirm its reserves for the 2025 season. Last year, Oliver Bearman and Antonio Giovinazzi (pictured below) shared this role, allowing the Briton to make his competitive debut in Saudi Arabia, replacing Carlos Sainz.

This year, Giovinazzi could continue in the role alongside his Hypercar seat in WEC with the Italian manufacturer, sharing duties with another Ferrari program driver, Dino Beganovic.

Beganovic will compete in his first Formula 2 season this year as he continues to climb the ranks with support from the Italian team. If he proves his abilities during this test, which will grant him the Super Licence, he will serve as a reserve alongside Giovinazzi.