Lewis Hamilton returns to Ferrari action as data vs Leclerc revealed

Hamilton vs. Leclerc: Ferrari Data Revealed as Hamilton Returns to Action

Lewis Hamilton was back in action for Ferrari as part of Pirelli’s ongoing tyre testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. In an early glimpse of his on-track performance with the Scuderia, data comparisons with Charles Leclerc emerged—giving fans a first taste of their highly anticipated rivalry.

Lando Norris Tops the Charts in F1 Tyre Test

Hamilton’s return to the cockpit came during a critical phase of development for F1’s 2026 tyre compounds, with Ferrari and McLaren participating in the test. While Hamilton slightly edged out Leclerc in lap times, it was McLaren’s Lando Norris who stole the show, setting the fastest time of the session.

Norris posted a best lap of **1:15.21** while completing **159 laps**, putting him ahead of Hamilton’s **1:15.93** over **87 laps**. Leclerc followed closely with **86 laps**, but his best time was **0.13 seconds slower** than Hamilton’s.

      Hamilton’s Crash Disrupts Ferrari’s Plans

The three-day test initially didn’t go as smoothly as Ferrari had hoped. During the second day’s morning session, Hamilton suffered a **crash at Turn 12**, causing bodywork and suspension damage to the SF-23. This incident forced Ferrari to adjust its schedule, with Leclerc losing valuable track time in the afternoon.

For the final day of testing, Ferrari turned to their reserve driver **Antonio Giovinazzi** and Academy racer **Dino Beganovic**, allowing them to gather additional data.

      Testing F1’s 2026 Evolution

Unlike a typical performance test, this session was dictated by Pirelli, with teams running **modified versions** of their 2024 cars. These cars had **20% less downforce**, aligning with the FIA’s plans for the significant regulation overhaul coming in 2026.

The FIA strictly limited teams to **”minimal modifications necessary”** for tyre development, preventing any unfair data collection beyond the scope of the test. However, reports from **autoracer.it** suggested that Ferrari also deployed their **SF-23** to allow Leclerc to make up for his lost laps from Hamilton’s crash.

     What’s Next for Ferrari?

Ferrari and McLaren are set to continue their Pirelli tyre testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Wednesday. With F1’s 2026 regulations bringing one of the biggest technical shake-ups in years, these early tests could be crucial in shaping future performance.

While it’s still early days in the Hamilton-Leclerc era at Ferrari, this initial test gave a small but intriguing glimpse into how the two drivers compare on track. With Hamilton narrowly ahead this time, the battle for supremacy at Ferrari is already heating up.