Hamilton Shocked by Rival Performance in F1 Final Test in Barcelona

In a surprising turn of events, Lewis Hamilton found himself trailing behind his F1 rivals after the final day of pre-season testing in Barcelona. The British driver, who was conducting tyre testing duties for Pirelli alongside Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, saw his time fall to nearly two seconds slower than Leclerc’s leading lap.

The test was focused on tyre compounds for the 2026 season, which will usher in significant regulatory changes. Despite the test being somewhat detached from the immediate championship context, Hamilton, known for his fierce competitive spirit, was likely not thrilled to see his name placed at the bottom of the timesheets. Leclerc posted the fastest time of 1m14.971s, with Piastri following in second at 1m15.815s. Hamilton’s time, 1m16.759s, left him struggling behind his competitors.

However, it’s important to note that the testing conditions were not fully known—details regarding fuel loads, tyre compounds, and run plans were unclear. This means Hamilton’s slower time could be influenced by variables outside of his control. In fact, just the previous day, Hamilton had outpaced Leclerc when they were joined by McLaren’s Lando Norris, raising questions about how relevant this testing session truly was.

F1 Testing and the Road Ahead

Despite the shock result, there were no major reliability issues reported during the testing session. Piastri managed an impressive 152 laps, while Hamilton and Leclerc each completed 74 laps. These encouraging reliability figures bode well for the teams, suggesting their cars are in solid form ahead of the new season.

The upcoming weeks will be pivotal for Ferrari and McLaren. Ferrari is set to unveil their 2025 car on February 19, with a launch event scheduled at London’s O2 Arena. After narrowly missing out on the Constructors’ Championship last season, Ferrari is determined to bounce back and challenge for both the Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships.

Pre-season testing will officially kick off in Bahrain on February 26, leading into the highly anticipated Australian Grand Prix on March 16. As the 2025 season draws closer, the stakes are higher than ever—will Hamilton, Leclerc, and Piastri be ready to battle for the title? The countdown to the new season is on, and F1 fans are eagerly awaiting the drama to unfold.