Hamilton Tops Final Day of Barcelona Testing for Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time on the final day of Formula 1's first pre-season test in Barcelona, delivering a late flyer for Ferrari to close out the week. The seven-time champion's performance capped a strong overall test for the Scuderia, which saw both its drivers near the top of the timesheets across multiple days while rivals like Mercedes had already concluded their running.

Why it matters:

This session marks Hamilton's first public outing in red since his high-profile switch from Mercedes, making any performance a major storyline. While test times are notoriously unrepresentative, finishing the week fastest provides a symbolic boost for the new partnership and confirms Ferrari's car has immediate pace. It sets an early, optimistic tone for the team's 2026 campaign.

The details:

• Hamilton’s best lap of 1:16.348 came in the closing minutes, edging out McLaren’s Lando Norris by 0.246 seconds.
• Teammate Charles Leclerc was third, ensuring both Ferrari drivers finished in the top three for the day.
• The team completed a reliable 140 laps between its two drivers, equivalent to over two race distances.
• World Champion Max Verstappen, back in a repaired Red Bull after a crash earlier in the week, finished fifth and focused on mileage, completing 118 laps.
• Pierre Gasly of Alpine recorded the highest lap count of the day with 160 laps, underscoring the focus on reliability for many teams.

What's next:

The unofficial times conclude the first pre-season test, with teams now analyzing terabytes of data before the season begins.

• The headline is Ferrari's apparent speed and Hamilton's seamless integration, but the true test comes at the first race.
• Notable absences from the final day, like Mercedes, remind us that programs vary widely. The pecking order will only become clear in Bahrain.