Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton took to the Madrid circuit for a filming day, giving Ferrari a head start ahead of the Grand Prix debut in September.
The Monegasque driver was the first to complete laps in this year's Ferrari SF-26.

What happened?

The filming day was limited to just a few laps due to World Championship rules, with teams only permitted to cover 200 km on each of the two authorised filming days.

Charles Leclerc completed the first lap in a Formula 1 car on the Spanish circuit, with team-mate Hamilton following suit.

Why it matters for Charles Leclerc

The data collected will help refine Ferrari's simulator models, giving them an edge ahead of the Grand Prix.

Fred Vasseur's team chose the Madring as the venue for its second film day, a clever move that benefits both the team and circuit operators.

What comes next?

The Grand Prix will be held at the Madrid circuit for the first time in September, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton looking to make the most of their advantage.

The circuit operators also benefited from the film day, testing the facility during a Formula 1 event for the first time.

Benefits for Ferrari

The Scuderia from Maranello had already used up their first filming day in April, when the cancellation of races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia resulted in a break in the World Championship calendar.

Both Ferrari stars were in action on that occasion, taking to the Monza circuit. The team's decision to choose the Madring for their second film day was a strategic move to gain an advantage ahead of the Grand Prix debut.