Lewis Hamilton has acknowledged that lacking the prospect to drive for Ferrari through the post-season Abu Dhabi F1 take a look at will pose further challenges firstly of the upcoming season. Regardless of this, the seven-time world champion has pledged to “do our greatest to get better” and adapt rapidly as soon as he will get behind the wheel of his new automobile.
In distinction to Carlos Sainz, who will take part within the Abu Dhabi take a look at with the Williams FW46 subsequent month, Hamilton is not going to have the chance to familiarize himself with Ferrari’s equipment till the New Yr. This delay may impression his preparation and understanding of the automobile’s intricacies forward of the 2024 System 1 season.
Mercedes crew boss Toto Wolff offered additional perception throughout the Las Vegas Grand Prix, explaining that resulting from “contractual agreements with sponsors,” it could have been potential for Lewis Hamilton to participate within the take a look at with Ferrari. Nevertheless, the choice to forgo the session might power Lewis Hamilton and the crew to give attention to making up for misplaced time through the early phases of the season.
“Fred didn’t ask. I believe it’s a distinction additionally when you’re perhaps going to Williams, however we’ve got contractual agreements with sponsors.” – The Mercedes crew principal defined final weekend – “We’re having a farewell for Lewis. We’re having numerous actions which might be deliberate. And him and I, we spoke about it shortly, and he stated, I suppose that’s not going to work. I don’t assume it’s going to work. And that was the entire thing. So I don’t assume Fred is especially unhappy.” – he identified through the Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend.
Hamilton is predicted to have the chance to familiarize himself with the 2022 Ferrari throughout a non-public session on the crew’s Fiorano circuit earlier than pre-season testing formally begins. This outing may present invaluable early insights into the automobile’s dealing with and efficiency traits.
Forward of the upcoming Qatar Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton overtly acknowledged that not collaborating within the Abu Dhabi take a look at represents a setback. He admitted that this missed monitor time may create an obstacle as preparations ramp up for the 2025 season, making the necessity for effectivity throughout pre-season testing much more vital: “Am I lacking out on one thing? For positive. It positively delays the method and makes the beginning of the yr more durable, however we’ll do our greatest to get better.” – the longer term Ferrari driver defined.
The seven-time world champion disclosed that he by no means straight requested Mercedes to permit him the chance to drive the 2024 Ferrari contender. Nevertheless, he conceded that, in hindsight, he acknowledged it was unlikely that such a request would have been granted. Regardless of the chance, Lewis Hamilton acknowledged that the state of affairs was most likely all the time going to unfold in a method the place this specific alternative was not realistically going to materialize.
“Look, I do know Fred wished it to occur,” he added. “For me, I used to be in two minds. Driving the crimson automobile for the primary time in Abu Dhabi doesn’t excite me. In an ideal world, you’d get to drive it and never be seen and do the primary rollout subsequent yr. Once I did race it, clearly with Toto, they’d all these plans that I’ve obtained to go and see among the sponsors and say their farewells. So I don’t assume it was ever going to truly be allowed, even when I’d requested to have finished it. However as a result of I’m contracted to the crew till December thirty first, and that’s completely effective. However it doesn’t trouble me, once more, as a result of I wasn’t going to do the take a look at. It’s not what I wished to do. I informed Fred that’s not what I wished to do.” – the seven-time System 1 world champion concluded.
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