Lewis Hamilton’s preparations for his first season with Ferrari continue this week with an important test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain.

From 28-30 January, the seven-time world champion will join teammate Charles Leclerc for a three-day private session, designed to help Hamilton settle into his new role with the Scuderia.

Ferrari will be running the SF-23, a car from the 2023 season, as part of the FIA’s more restrictive testing regulations, limiting teams to just 1000 kilometres of running with previous cars per year, spread across four days.

After a brief shakedown in Fiorano on 22 January, where Hamilton and Leclerc covered just 131 km due to poor weather conditions, the real testing begins in Barcelona. Over the three days, they will be permitted to complete up to 186 laps, or 866 km. With cool temperatures expected, ranging from 3°C to 13°C, and the possibility of showers on Thursday, the conditions are likely to add an extra challenge.

In addition to the this test, Ferrari will also be involved in Pirelli tyre testing a few days after. On 4-5 February, the team will run a modified SF-24 to assess prototype tyres ahead of the technical overhaul in 2026.

However, the Italian team won’t be the only one to test for Pirelli as McLaren will conduct the first test for the tyre supplier of the year at Circuit Paul Ricard from 29-30 January, after that they are set to join Ferrari in Barcelona.