Hamilton Misses Crucial Mugello Tyre Test Amid Ferrari Debut Season Challenges

Lewis Hamilton’s debut season at Ferrari has taken another unexpected twist after the seven-time world champion was forced to miss Pirelli’s crucial 2026 tyre testing session at Mugello.

The Englishman, who was scheduled to share driving duties with Charles Leclerc in Ferrari’s adapted mule car, withdrew late due to personal circumstances. Ferrari confirmed that reserve driver Zhou Guanyu stepped in to replace him.

The Mugello session formed part of Pirelli’s final assessment phase ahead of sweeping regulation changes for 2026. Among the adjustments, tyre widths will shrink significantly—fronts reducing from 305mm to 275mm and rears from 405mm to 375mm.

With teams eager to collect as much feedback as possible, Hamilton’s absence naturally drew attention.The reason behind his no-show has been explained by Hamilton himself.

The Briton revealed on social media that his beloved dog Roscoe had suffered a severe health scare, developing pneumonia that left him struggling to breathe. According to Hamilton, Roscoe’s heart even stopped during treatment before vets managed to revive him, leaving the bulldog in a critical condition.

Hamilton chose to remain by Roscoe’s side rather than head to Italy, sparking sympathy from fans and the wider paddock.

For Ferrari, Zhou’s late call-up ensured the testing programme continued without disruption. Still, the Scuderia will feel the absence of Hamilton’s feedback, especially given the value of his race-winning experience in evaluating how the new, narrower tyres behave under varying loads.

Charles Leclerc carried much of the responsibility, while Zhou treated the run as an opportunity to further integrate himself with the team. Hamilton’s absence comes during what has been a mixed debut campaign in red.

His long-awaited switch from Mercedes to Ferrari was billed as one of the most significant driver transfers in modern Formula 1 history, and expectations were understandably immense. Yet, as the season has unfolded, Hamilton has faced both flashes of competitiveness and the hard reality that Ferrari remain a step behind McLaren in the constructors’ fight.

At times, Hamilton has shown the skill and grit that defined his championship-winning years, dragging the Ferrari into podium contention on circuits where outright pace was lacking.

But equally, there have been weekends of frustration, marred by strategy calls, inconsistency, and the uphill task of bedding into a completely new environment after more than a decade at Mercedes.

The question now lingers: is Hamilton still fully invested in the grind of Formula 1? Missing a tyre test for personal reasons is, in isolation, understandable—especially considering the emotional bond he shares with Roscoe, a dog that has been a constant presence in the paddock throughout his career.

However, critics may argue that moments like these, combined with his off-track ventures and public lifestyle, raise doubts about whether his laser-like focus on racing has softened.

What is clear is that Hamilton’s competitive instinct hasn’t entirely faded. He remains a driver capable of producing world-class performances, even if Ferrari have not yet provided him with a championship-contending car.

Whether he is still 100% committed to F1 is harder to judge. On track, the hunger is visible; off it, his priorities appear broader. For Ferrari, the challenge will be ensuring that Hamilton’s legendary drive continues to burn brightly enough to push the Scuderia back to the top.