Lewis Hamilton conducts private Ferrari F1 test to address major weakness

Lewis Hamilton is to conduct a test for Ferrari at Mugello to get to grips with a new rear suspension system being developed.

Hamilton will be in action in Ferrari's 2025 SF-25 machine at the Italian circuit on Thursday along with team-mate Charles Leclerc as the two evaluate a new design it is hoped will cure long-standing problems with the car.

F1's rules allow for current cars to be tested under the guise of a filming day, with a total of 200km of running allowed. 

They are usually conducted before pre-season testing so teams can shakedown their new designs, but can be held back for any point during the season. 

Ferrari recently received a boost with its floor upgrade in Austria performing as expected, with the new rear suspension design aiming to make the car less susceptible to ride height changes - something the SF-25 has struggled with throughout the season. 

It is hoped that the new suspension will enable the team to run the car lower and closer to the ground, aiding the ground effects which generate performance after having to raise it following Hamilton's disqualification for excessive plank wear in China.

Ferrari had pencilled in the test prior to the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa to validate the new parts, with on-track running to be limited during that weekend, as it is a sprint weekend with just 60 minutes of practice before cars enter sprint qualifying parc ferme.