Lewis Hamilton Completes F1 2025 TPC Testing Period

Lewis Hamilton’s testing sessions under the new Formula 1 Testing of Previous Car (TPC) regulations have concluded after he used the maximum allotted four days to familiarize himself with Ferrari’s SF-23. Since joining Ferrari for his first season in red, Hamilton has taken part in various testing activities designed to assess older car models within specific limits.

Testing Regulations and Limitations

The TPC rules restrict current championship drivers to a maximum of 1,000 km of testing in previous-generation cars over four days. These regulations were clarified last year following controversy over Red Bull’s Max Verstappen driving a 2022 car during a TPC session, which Ferrari and other teams argued was an unfair development tool.

Ferrari’s team principal, Fred Vasseur, explained that such testing allows for development and driver training outside of race weekends, including mileage for simulator work. He suggested that TPC testing should be carefully regulated to distinguish between sessions involving current drivers and those with non-championship drivers or reserve drivers.

Hamilton’s TPC Experience

Hamilton first drove the SF-23 on February 23 at Fiorano, Ferrari’s private test track. He later participated in sessions at Barcelona, sharing the track with teammate Charles Leclerc before a crash halted progress. During a subsequent tyre test involving the modified SF-24, Hamilton received a fourth day behind the wheel of the 2023 model, completing his allocated testing days.

As per the regulations, Hamilton’s total mileage in the SF-23 remains undisclosed, but he has exhausted his four-day limit and cannot conduct further TPC outings. Ferrari still has remaining testing days with Leclerc and reserve driver Antonio Giovinazzi, as well as with Zhou Guanyu, who is permitted up to 20 days annually for non-championship testing.