Despite crashing in pre-season, Lewis Hamilton’s former F1 team manager Peter Windsor suggests it may actually be a positive sign for the seven-time World Champion.
Windsor even went as far to say that fans should be ‘delighted’ with the crash after Hamilton’s switch from Mercedes.
Hamilton made his high-profile switch from Mercedes early this year to replace Carlos Sainz in a deal worth over £40million per year.
The seven-time world champion was testing SF-23, Ferrari’s F1 2023 challenger when his session ended abruptly after a high-speed crash on the final turn.
The impact caused damage to the car’s suspension and aerodynamic components, forcing teammate Charles Leclerc to miss the afternoon session.
Despite the setback, Windsor urged Hamilton’s fans not to be concerned.
Instead, he said they should be ‘delighted’ by what the crash signifies — Hamilton’s confidence and comfort in his new team environment.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Windsor explained: “On the face of it, Lewis Hamilton’s first proper test with Ferrari which took place in Barcelona last week was not the greatest of tests in that it ended in a massive shunt coming out of the last corner.
“But on the face of it you would think therefore, a little bit of a difficult first test for Lewis at his new team and what will be the repercussions of that.
“My take is that it was actually a very, very good test for Lewis, and I think all Lewis Hamilton fans can feel delighted at the way that test went.”
Windsor emphasised that the crash wasn’t the result of any mechanical fault or track issue, but rather a testament to Hamilton’s aggressive driving and his renewed sense of connection with the car.
“Nothing to do with a bump on the road or any of that stuff, it was all tied to how good Lewis felt in the car and how he’s feeling within the team, he feels great in the team,” Windsor continued.
“He loved the feeling of feeling the road again and actually being a part of the car and kind of being on top of the car and getting it to be a part of his DNA and what he does in a race car, he loved that.”
The move to Ferrari has sparked debate among F1 insiders, with figures like Mattia Binotto, Flavio Briatore, and Eddie Jordan expressing doubts about the decision to replace Carlos Sainz with Hamilton.
Nevertheless, Windsor believes the early signs indicate a promising future for Hamilton at the Scuderia.
Meanwhile, Hamilton’s former seat at Mercedes has been filled by Italian rising star Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who recently passed his driving test in his native Italy ahead of his debut.
Hamilton will have a chance for redemption however, with the opportunity to drive Ferrari’s 2024 car in a Pirelli tyre test.
The Tifosi watched the 40-year-old take to the wheel of the Ferrari Formula 1 car, ridding himself of the memories of the SF-23 crash.
