Ferrari is still on track in Barcelona. In this case, the SF-24 is being used, the car that finished as the 2024 world championship runner-up. Without a doubt, having the opportunity to run with such a recent single-seater could help the team significantly, considering that the 2025 car is its natural evolution. However, these are very specific track tests, as they are part of an event organized by the International Federation for Pirelli. The goal is to provide the Italian tire manufacturer with all the necessary tools to “hypothesize” reality as accurately as possible. Unfortunately, there is no physical model of the 2026 cars.
If there were, the work of the Italian tire manufacturer would be much simpler. We say this for several reasons. Now, let’s understand why. In the tests currently taking place on the Catalan track, Ferrari is using last season’s car. However, various modifications have been made to adapt it to the test, starting with the suspension to accommodate tires of different weight and size. Not to mention the floor, which has also been modified to facilitate Pirelli’s data collection. All of this indicates that the reliability of these tests for 2025 is practically nonexistent.
The FIA regulates these tests quite strictly. Here are the details. The Mule Car Test is defined as any track activity that is not part of a competition, in which a championship-registered competitor participates using cars designed and built to comply with the technical regulations or regulatory framework of any of the four calendar years immediately preceding the upcoming racing season. The F1 cars are suitably modified to provide the official tire supplier with a means to test its future products on track.
Alternatively, they can also serve as a means for the FIA to test components or systems for future seasons. The cars are limited to the minimum modifications necessary for the development of tires or for track tests conducted by the International Federation concerning specific systems. During any TMC, the cars must be equipped with the control unit mandated by the governing body. In exceptional cases, and solely at the discretion of the governing body upon approval, components and/or software that do not comply with Article 10.10 may be installed, provided that a precise request detailing the reasons is submitted.
Ferrari is undoubtedly continuing its work in parallel. The team can keep familiarizing itself with the methodology related to the tasks at hand, especially with Lewis Hamilton. It can verify various parameters of the car concerning the power unit. However, with the modified SF-24, no significant conclusions can be drawn. There is, however, one somewhat surprising factor that stands out regarding the Scuderia. In addition to McLaren and the Italian single-seater that competed in last season’s championship, the Italian team has also chosen to have Charles Leclerc recover the TCP.
The Monegasque driver was unable to run on Wednesday afternoon last week. The reason is well known: Lewis Hamilton’s crash into the barriers at over 200 kilometers per hour had destroyed the front end of the SF-23. An expert from Maranello had even arrived to assess whether it was feasible to put Charles Leclerc on track. However, following preliminary examinations of the car, it was decided to forgo the session, with the awareness that the Ferrari driver’s previous car test would still take place. As a result, the former Alfa Romeo driver will be able to train a bit more in preparation for the end-of-month tests scheduled in Sakhir, Bahrain.
Returning to the SF-24, for Lewis Hamilton, it will be his first time. That’s true. However, given all the aforementioned restrictions, Charles’ session aboard the 2023 single-seater will be significantly more meaningful. He, too, is working on tire testing, but in his case, although the tires are also specific and produced by Pirelli solely for the TCP tests, the data collection that can be carried out is far more interesting, particularly for comparisons that will later be made in the simulator. This is a useful move to work on data correlation, which remains one of the most crucial aspects in modern F1.
Charles knows the Ferrari environment very well. In 2025, he will face his seventh season with the historic Maranello team. For this reason, his feedback—though partial and gathered with an older car—could still prove useful to the cause. The key figures involved have confirmed this. Testing continues today, once again for Pirelli. We await the end of the day to learn more.
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