Lewis Hamilton will not participate in this week’s essential Lewis Hamilton tire test at Mugello, with Guanyu Zhou stepping in to drive Ferrari’s SF-25 mule car instead. This absence occurs during a difficult 2025 season for the seven-time world champion, as he misses an important opportunity to gain experience with the 2026-spec tires ahead of significant Formula 1 regulation changes.
The Mugello test is a critical stage for Pirelli, which is finalizing tire compounds for the upcoming regulations. After Haas completed preliminary runs, Ferrari planned for Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to test on Thursday following a session involving Zhou and Arthur Leclerc. However, Hamilton’s spot was withdrawn, with Zhou taking the lead on the track alongside Leclerc. Roman Grosjean is also scheduled to contribute to Pirelli’s program this week.
Ferrari’s Tire Testing and 2026 Regulation Changes
Pirelli’s tire tests at Mugello are paramount to shaping the next generation of F1 tires, which will be narrower to better suit new hybrid power units and active aerodynamics. The front tires will shrink by 25 millimeters, while the rear tires will reduce by 30 millimeters. This final on-track assessment precedes the official rollout of 2026 tires, which will be used in testing sessions in Barcelona early next year. Missing participation in this test means Hamilton falls behind his teammates, particularly since Charles Leclerc and Zhou have already driven the new designs earlier in the season.
Hamilton’s Absence Linked to Personal Challenges
Lewis Hamilton’s withdrawal from the test is due to a serious personal matter involving his bulldog, Roscoe. The dog has suffered from pneumonia for several years, and this year his condition has worsened substantially. Roscoe has been under continuous veterinary care throughout 2025, receiving treatment including a vegan diet and acupuncture aiming to manage his illness. Although Roscoe had brief periods of improvement and made appearances in the F1 paddock at Silverstone, Hamilton recently appealed to fans for support during this difficult time.
“For understandable reasons, Sir Lewis Hamilton will not be present at tomorrow’s Pirelli tests in Mugello. Zhou will take his place.”
— Rosario Giuliana, F1 Journalist
Ferrari’s Team Orders at Azerbaijan Grand Prix and Hamilton’s Performance
Hamilton’s missed test follows a challenging Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend in Baku, where Ferrari’s team orders involving him and Charles Leclerc drew attention. Both drivers faced tough qualifying sessions; Leclerc crashed in Q1 starting 10th, and Hamilton was eliminated in Q2placing him 12th on the grid. During the race, both were stuck in a long DRS train behind Liam Lawson while Yuki Tsunoda and Lando Norris battled ahead for sixth place.
With about ten laps remaining, Hamilton on fresher medium tires closed on Leclerc, who was on older hard tires. Ferrari instructed them to swap positions, hoping Hamilton could attack Norris. Leclerc complied, but Hamilton was unable to overtake the McLaren. Later, the team demanded Hamilton return the position, yet he crossed the finish line just 0.464 seconds ahead of Leclerc, sparking frustration from the Monegasque driver.
“I think the situation was clear for us, that Lewis had a tire advantage, and we asked Charles to let him go to try to overtake Norris. On top of that, Charles had the issue with the recovery, and we’re not at the top on the engine. I think that it was the best option for us to do this move. We asked to swap back, and it looks like Lewis had a misjudgement on the position of the start and finish line. If we lost something, it was yesterday (qualifying), not today.”
— Fred Vasseur, Ferrari Team Principal
Vasseur emphasized that the team’s main challenges came during qualifying, which remains a weak area for Hamilton. In the 2023 season, he exited Q2 three times, his highest tally in a year. So far in 2025, Hamilton has matched this record with four Q2 eliminations and already one Q1 exit, with seven races still to go.
The Impact of These Setbacks on Hamilton’s 2025 Season
The missed tire test at Mugello and continued qualifying struggles underline a difficult phase for Lewis Hamilton. His inability to participate in the Pirelli testing deprives him of critical preparation for 2026’s new tire setup, making his adjustment to the upcoming changes tougher compared to his teammates. Coupled with his companion Roscoe’s health problems, Hamilton’s 2025 campaign reflects both professional and personal adversity.
As Formula 1 moves closer to introducing sweeping technical regulations next year, Hamilton will need to overcome these setbacks to remain competitive. His experience, however, will be temporarily limited ahead of 2026’s new tire regulations, which may affect his performance in the early stages of the transition.
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