Scuderia Ferrari has stepped up its preparations for the 2025 Formula 1 season . They are currently carrying out three days of testing at the Montmeló circuit, near Barcelona, under the watchful eye of Deputy Team Principal Jerome D’Ambrosio – with Togninalli directing the actual operations on the track.
The first two days saw the official drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc , at the wheel of the SF-23. Under the regulations of TPC (Testing of Previous Cars) this was the newest challenger available for the Ferrari duo.
TPC Montmelo Test: A small mistake by Hamilton with a ‘big’ impact for Leclerc
These sessions are part of the “Testing Previous Cars” (TPC) program. These programs allow teams to use cars from previous seasons to train their regular drivers, albeit with some limitations. Most notably, there is a maximum of 1,000 km per year to be completed in a maximum of four days.
The main objective of these two days was to allow Hamilton to familiarize himself with both the car and the team. Another key objective was to train both drivers ahead of the upcoming 2025 season.
However, the second day was marked by a major unforeseen event . In the late morning, Hamilton committed a small error which had major consequences , forcing the team to conduct repairs to the SF-23. This limited running time, with Charles Leclerc most impacted, as poor visibility made track time more difficult.
After rain affected Leclerc’s previous track time, Leclerc had to skip another day of preparation. With the 2025 season and pre-season testing approaching, this was from ideal. To complicate matters, there are also limitations on the permitted test days for the regular drivers.
Only four days are allowed, and Ferrari have already used three of them. This also affected any chance of rescheduling the TPC to compensate for lost time – since Ferrari don’t want to throw away their final available TPC day of the season.
Ferrari have followed their original programme, so much so that Antonio Giovinazzi is already on track at Montmelo in the SF-23. Meanwhile, in the afternoon, there will be the ‘surprise’ Dino Beganovic at the wheel.
The next ‘training’ session for the two Ferrari drivers will be on February 4 and 5, with the Scuderia taking part in the tests organized by Pirelli for the development of the 2026 tyres. Unlike what happened at Fioano or on the first day of testing this week, Hamilton and Leclerc will do a full day behind the wheel in the Pirelli tests.
Pirelli Montmelo Test: SF-24 to use unusual low downforce configuration for Spanish circuit
The regulation that will come into force next year aims to make the single-seaters lighter, more efficient and sustainable. One of the main objectives will also be to improve the competition on the track, reducing turbulence and encouraging overtaking.
In addition, the engine will retain the V6 hybrid unit , but with an increase in the electric component up to 50% of the total power , eliminating the expensive MGU-H to attract especially an engine manufacturer like Audi.
The use of 100% sustainable fuels is another key point, contributing to F1’s goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030. In the latter part of last year, a series of changes and improvements to the new technical regulation were approved, which mainly affected the aerodynamic load generated and consequently the lap times.
“With the changes made we have increased the performance by about 50 load points,” Tombazis (FIA) said.
In this way, the aerodynamic load values of the 2026 cars would be approximately 20% different from the ground effect ones that concluded the last world championship and no more than 40%.
For this reason, we can anticipate that Lewis Hamilton’s debut on the SF-24 will be ‘special’ . Not only because it will be the first time he will drive the latest Ferrari, but also because of the aerodynamic configuration that will be used.
Ferrari has prepared the car, which won 5 victories last year, in an unusual low-downforce version – compared to the medium-high/high-downforce set-up typical for Montmelo.
This is part of the specific modifications necessary to adapt to the 2026 loads with which to test the new tire specifications. In addition to the special aerodynamics, the SF-24 Hamilton uses will be a lighter version.
This is because the FIA now allows teams last summer to use their lightest specification for the 2026 tire tests.
Usual mechanisms to keep the cars at the minimum weight, such as the ballast, will not be necessary. This should help teams test with a weight similar to what the 2026 cars will be – albeit some far off.
The 2026 Pirelli tire tests next week in will not be the first of 2025. McLaren are already tracked at Paul Ricard to test the “full-wet” tires and the next generation of intermediates. The Woking team will also take to the track next week, together with Ferrari.
