Lewis Hamilton completes intensive Fiorano test as Ferrari gathers key data. Ferrari completed two days of testing at Fiorano.

Ferrari’s intense testing programme at Fiorano

Ferrari has completed a two-day testing programme at Fiorano, where Lewis Hamilton gathered a significant amount of data at the wheel of the SF-26. The Scuderia continues a particularly busy April on track, this time working in collaboration with Pirelli to test new Full Wet and Intermediate tyres. The British driver carried out both sessions, offering valuable feedback throughout the programme.

During the first day, the seven-time World Champion completed as many as 142 laps, running both a new Full Wet compound and an Intermediate tyre. His best lap time was 1’01’’031. Over the same period, Charles Leclerc was working in the simulator, taking part in technical meetings attended by Team Principal Fréd Vasseur. The work carried out with Pirelli generated a large volume of data and even led to an improvement in lap times. Here is the summary of Day 2.

Hamilton completes 297 laps at Fiorano

“The first tyres to be tested were prototypes for extreme wet conditions, including a new tread pattern already trialled last week at Suzuka, with the aim of extending the operating range of the Cinturato Full Wet to less intense rain conditions. From mid-afternoon until the end of the day, a variant of the Cinturato Intermediate was used, which also allowed the evaluation of crossover windows between the wet products tested on track. The Ferrari driver covered 461 kilometres today, equivalent to 155 laps, setting his best time of the day at 1’00’’740. Over the two-day testing session at Fiorano, a total of 297 laps were completed, covering 884 kilometres overall. Ambient temperatures, similar to those of the previous day, reached 22°C.”

This was Pirelli’s official statement summarising the second day of testing. The next appointment is scheduled for April 22, when Charles Leclerc will also return behind the wheel of the SF-26 for a 200-kilometre filming day aimed at testing a new upgrade package planned for the Miami Grand Prix.

At the American round, Carlo Santi will once again be on the radio for car #44. Ferrari is also expected to trial the so-called “Macarena” wing, designed to optimise straight-line efficiency and deliver a significant gain in top speed. The reverse wing concept could represent the only effective weapon to counter Mercedes’ current power unit advantage. Meanwhile, the new engine, featuring an updated internal combustion unit, is not expected to debut before July.

Lewis Hamilton’s 884-kilometer marathon at Fiorano is therefore a testament to the relentless pace of development in this 2026 season. By providing deep insights into Pirelli’s future rain tires, the Briton is also helping Ferrari fine-tune the mechanical balance of the SF-26 before the high-stakes upgrades arrive in Florida. With the “Macarena” wing potentially bridging the gap to Mercedes on the straights, the upcoming Miami weekend could be a turning point for the Maranello team. For the Tifosi, the sight of the seven-time F1 world champion putting in such heavy mileage is an encouraging sign of his commitment to the red cause, ensuring that when the new engine finally arrives in July, the chassis will be more than ready to fight at the very front.