Hamilton Reaches Testing Limit as Ferrari Era Begins
Lewis Hamilton will be unable to conduct further testing in old Ferrari machinery after reaching the maximum limit permitted under Formula 1 regulations for Testing of Previous Cars (TPC).
Under the F1 Sporting Regulations, teams are limited to 20 days of TPC running, with only one car available per outing.
Current F1 drivers can only conduct a total of 1000 kilometres of running over a maximum of four days out of the 20.
Ferrari have used up their TPC allocation as Hamilton has been getting up to speed with the team ahead of his debut season, following his blockbuster switch from Mercedes.
The seven-time world champion completed his first day of TPC running at his on-track debut in a 2023 Ferrari at Fiorano in January.
He spent another two days behind the wheel of the SF-23 at Barcelona last week alongside teammate Charles Leclerc.
Hamilton’s programme was disrupted when he crashed on the second morning of running last Wednesday and was back at Barcelona this week, this time in a modified 2024 Ferrari as part of a two-day Pirelli tyre test.
He ran the SF-23 again at Barcelona for his fourth and final day of running which falls under the TPC limit.
Reacting to his time with the Scuderia so far, Hamilton posted a video of his activity on Instagram, saying he is “feeling right at home”.
Hamilton is expected to drive Ferrari’s new 2025 car at Fiorano in a shakedown under one of two permitted filming days after the SF-25 launch on February 19.
The 40-year-old and Leclerc will then get to drive the 2025 car during official pre-season testing programme in Bahrain between February 26-28.