Lewis Hamilton has acknowledged that lacking the prospect to drive for Ferrari throughout the post-season Abu Dhabi F1 take a look at will pose extra challenges in the beginning of the upcoming season. Regardless of this, the seven-time world champion has pledged to “do our greatest to recuperate” and adapt shortly 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 won’t have the chance to familiarize himself with Ferrari’s equipment till the New Yr. This delay might impression his preparation and understanding of the automobile’s intricacies forward of the 2024 Components 1 season.
Mercedes crew boss Toto Wolff offered additional perception throughout the Las Vegas Grand Prix, explaining that attributable to “contractual agreements with sponsors,” it could have been potential for Lewis Hamilton to participate within the take a look at with Ferrari. Nonetheless, the choice to forgo the session could pressure Lewis Hamilton and the crew to give attention to making up for misplaced time throughout the early phases of the season.
“Fred didn’t ask. I feel it’s a distinction additionally if you happen to’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 plenty of actions which are deliberate. And him and I, we spoke about it shortly, and he mentioned, I assume that’s not going to work. I don’t suppose it’s going to work. And that was the entire thing. So I don’t suppose Fred is especially unhappy.” – he identified throughout the Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend.
Hamilton is predicted to have the chance to familiarize himself with the 2022 Ferrari throughout a personal session on the crew’s Fiorano circuit earlier than pre-season testing formally begins. This outing might 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 taking part within the Abu Dhabi take a look at represents a setback. He admitted that this missed observe time might create an obstacle as preparations ramp up for the 2025 season, making the necessity for effectivity throughout pre-season testing much more essential: “Am I lacking out on one thing? For certain. It positively delays the method and makes the beginning of the 12 months more durable, however we’ll do our greatest to recuperate.” – 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. Nonetheless, 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 in all probability at all times going to unfold in a manner 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 pink 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 12 months. After I did race it, clearly with Toto, that they had all these plans that I’ve obtained to go and see a few of the sponsors and say their farewells. So I don’t suppose it was ever going to really be allowed, even when I’d requested to have performed it. However as a result of I’m contracted to the crew till December thirty first, and that’s completely advantageous. Nevertheless it doesn’t hassle 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 advised Fred that’s not what I wished to do.” – the seven-time Components 1 world champion concluded.
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