Lewis Hamilton has acknowledged that lacking the possibility to drive for Ferrari in the course of the post-season Abu Dhabi F1 check will pose extra challenges at the beginning of the upcoming season. Regardless of this, the seven-time world champion has pledged to “do our greatest to get well” 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 check 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 may influence his preparation and understanding of the automobile’s intricacies forward of the 2024 System 1 season.
Mercedes group boss Toto Wolff offered additional perception throughout the Las Vegas Grand Prix, explaining that because of “contractual agreements with sponsors,” it might have been doable for Lewis Hamilton to participate within the check with Ferrari. Nonetheless, the choice to forgo the session could drive Lewis Hamilton and the group to give attention to making up for misplaced time in the course of the early levels of the season.
“Fred didn’t ask. I feel it’s a distinction additionally if you happen to’re possibly going to Williams, however we have now contractual agreements with sponsors.” – The Mercedes group principal defined final weekend – “We’re having a farewell for Lewis. We’re having a number of 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 suppose it’s going to work. And that was the entire thing. So I don’t suppose Fred is especially unhappy.” – he identified in the course of the Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend.
Hamilton is anticipated to have the chance to familiarize himself with the 2022 Ferrari throughout a non-public session on the group’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 check represents a setback. He admitted that this missed observe time may create a drawback 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 certain. It undoubtedly delays the method and makes the beginning of the yr tougher, however we’ll do our greatest to get well.” – the longer term Ferrari driver defined.
The seven-time world champion disclosed that he by no means immediately 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 most likely all the time going to unfold in a method the place this explicit alternative was not realistically going to materialize.
“Look, I do know Fred needed 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. After I did race it, clearly with Toto, they’d all these plans that I’ve acquired to go and see a number of the sponsors and say their farewells. So I don’t suppose it was ever going to truly be allowed, even when I’d requested to have performed it. However as a result of I’m contracted to the group till December thirty first, and that’s completely fantastic. However it doesn’t hassle me, once more, as a result of I wasn’t going to do the check. It’s not what I needed to do. I instructed Fred that’s not what I needed to do.” – the seven-time System 1 world champion concluded.
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