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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Philip Duncan

Lewis Hamilton suffers early Ferrari setback after crash in pre-season testing

Lewis Hamilton crashed during a private testing event in Barcelona - (Getty Images)

Lewis Hamilton suffered a setback in his pre-season preparations for Ferrari after he crashed during a private event at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya.

The PA news agency understands the 40-year-old ran off the road on his second test for his new team following his appearance at Ferrari's Fiorano track last week.

Hamilton was said by a source to be "absolutely okay" following the crash.

Ferrari are not commenting on Hamilton's accident due to the session taking place behind closed doors.

Ferrari are in Spain completing three days of running in their 2023 car - the latest version they are allowed to use under Formula One rules - ahead of the sport's sole official test prior to the new season in Bahrain later this month.

Charles Leclerc was due to take over from Hamilton on Wednesday afternoon, but it is believed his running will be delayed following the damage sustained to the car.

Hamilton described his maiden test for Ferrari last week as one of the best feelings of his life.

He moved to Ferrari after 12 seasons at Mercedes - a transfer perceived to be the biggest in the sport's history - and his first race for his new team will be in Melbourne on March 16.

Hamilton, bidding to win a record eighth world championship, is due to take the wraps off his new Ferrari alongside Leclerc on February 19 in Maranello - a day after the F1 season launch event at the O2 Arena in London.

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