Lewis Hamilton’s long-awaited maiden laps with Ferrari commanded the headlines in Formula 1 last week, but other teams have also been working hard behind the scenes.
Hamilton’s pre-season programme at Ferrari is continuing this week as he and team-mate Charles Leclerc have gone to Barcelona with the SF-23 used in Fiorano.
The Italian marque is expected to remain in Spain next week to conduct a test with the 18-inch wheels that Pirelli plans to introduce for 2026 to complement F1’s rules overhaul.
That will give Hamilton the chance to sample the 2024-edition SF-24 that Ferrari won five races with last season to place second in the Constructors’ Championship.
But Ferrari hasn’t been alone in obtaining mileage using previous-spec machines as both the rebadged Racing Bulls and Sauber sides appeared on track at Imola last week.
The two teams ran their 2025 line-ups, with newcomers Isack Hadjar (RB) and Formula 2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) among five rookies on this season’s roster.
“Today’s done here in Imola, very positive,” Bortoleto said. “Very nice to be back in the car after almost two months. Quite happy with our progress in these two days.
“Basically all wet sessions, but very good, happy. Thanks to the whole team for making this TPC happen. So we keep in touch, and thanks everyone for the support.”
Nico Hulkenberg, returning to Sauber as it prepares to morph into Audi in 2026, accompanied the Brazilian, the nation’s first F1 driver since Felipe Massa retired in 2017.
Alongside Hadjar, Yuki Tsunoda, embarking upon his fifth season with the Faenza-based squad, drove the AT04 that was constructed under the AlphaTauri moniker.
Haas is the sole other team to have undertaken a TPC session in recent times, with Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon getting a run-out in the team’s 2022 VF-22 at Jerez.
Ocon, who ended his extensive association with Alpine to move to Haas, described his opening spin with the American outfit as “honestly the best test day I’ve ever done”.
Alpine ramp up preparations back home
Outside the track action, Jack Doohan, who made his F1 debut in Abu Dhabi last month, was present at Alpine’s base to complete essential duties ahead of his first F1 season.
The Australian underwent a seat fitting, spent some time in the simulator and sat down with the crew that will be on his side of the garage at the start of the campaign.
Alpine also had Franco Colapinto in attendance as he made his inaugural trip to Enstone since the news that he had been signed from Williams on a multi-term deal.
The Argentine got acquainted with Alpine’s in-house simulator, which is a tool he will be getting accustomed to more over the next months in his initial role as a reserve driver.
“My first day in Alpine; I’ve been in the simulator today,” he said in a video Alpine posted. “I’ve been getting to know the team, a lot of new faces, new opportunities, new challenges.
“So really excited about this season. A lot of work to do, but really happy be here with a new family and it’s looking great. So exciting days ahead and hope to see you soon guys.”
Colapinto showcased his helmet design with Alpine branding this week as he returned to complete a seat fitting, but that’s unrelated to rumours about him taking Doohan’s spot.
Colapinto’s new venture will entail track time in past Alpine machinery under the Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) scheme that permits track time in creations older than two years.
The ex-Williams driver could also be called upon to deputise for Alpine on a race weekend should either Doohan or team-mate Pierre Gasly be unable to compete.
Lawson begins Red Bull venture
But while Colapinto will have to bide his time to return to a permanent seat, Lawson has been put through his paces as he steps up to the drive regarded as the toughest in F1.
Sergio Perez’s demise prompted him to be ousted, with Red Bull opting to invest in-house with Lawson being chosen over Yuki Tsunoda to move up from the satellite team.
The New Zealander will be the most inexperienced driver to ever race with Red Bull’s senior setup, a task made even more daunting as he partners Max Verstappen.
The second seat at Red Bull has become renowned as a poisoned chalice since Daniel Ricciardo’s initial exit in 2018, with Gasly, Alex Albon and Perez all struggling.
Lawson, though, will be aiming to become the answer to Red Bull’s long-standing second driver conundrum as the team bids to regain the Constructors’ Championship.
Lawson was pictured talking with Verstappen’s race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase as Red Bull moulded the race seat that he will be using in the team’s RB21.
Lawson will be present with Verstappen as Red Bull unveils its 2025 livery alongside the other nine teams at F1’s season launch event at the O2 in London on 18 February.
That will precede the sole pre-season test in Bahrain between February 26-28, which takes place prior to the season-opening Australian Grand Prix from March 14-16.
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