Hamilton SOUNDLY beaten by rivals in final F1 test

Lewis Hamilton's off-season testing may have started well with a great reception in Italy, but his time in Barcelona has been less encouraging.

New Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc and McLaren rival Oscar Piastri also took to the track for their final day of Pirelli tyre testing in Catalunya, and the results weren't especially encouraging for the British driver.

F1 HEADLINES: Hamilton issues new team statement as Red Bull make MAJOR driver change

READ MORE: Ferrari announce late driver SWITCH in official statement

Although the test was conducted for tyres that will be used during 2026 when a huge raft of rules and regulation changes will come into effect, the competitive nature of Hamilton will still make it likely he wouldn't have been happy to see his name bottom of the pile at the Circuit de Catalunya against drivers he will hope to see off in a title fight this year.

According to F1 journalist Jon Noble, Leclerc went fastest after posting a 1m14.971s, with Piastri following up on a 1m15.815s. Hamilton's time was nearly two seconds off his new team-mate with a 1m16.759.

However, given the little data known in regards to fuel loads, tyre compounds and run plans, any concerns that Hamilton was already falling behind Leclerc or even Piastri could be taken with a pinch of salt.

That could also be magnified from the previous day's running when Hamilton easily beat Leclerc when the pair were joined on track by the sister McLaren of Lando Norris.

Of encouragement to both teams, who were running 2024 cars, there was little to report in the way of reliability issues, with Piastri pounding in 152 laps, and Hamilton and Leclerc both doing 74 tours of the circuit.

When will Ferrari release their 2025 F1 car?

Ferrari will unveil their new 2025 challenger on February 19 just one day after a livery launch at the O2 Arena in London.

Having been pipped to the constructors' championship at the final race in Abu Dhabi last season, they will be targeting going one better this season as well as hoping both their drivers challenge for the drivers' championship.

Three days of pre-season testing will get underway from February 26 at the Sakhir circuit in Bahrain ahead of the opening race with the Australian Grand Prix on March 16.

READ MORE: Ferrari announce late driver SWITCH in official statement

Related

Ferrari

Hamilton THUMPS Leclerc as secret Ferrari revelation emerges

• Yesterday 01:00

Ferrari

Hamilton STUNS in 2025 Ferrari kit as merch finally released

• February 4, 2025 16:00