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 further challenges at first 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 automotive.
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 12 months. This delay might influence his preparation and understanding of the automotive’s intricacies forward of the 2024 System 1 season.
Mercedes workforce boss Toto Wolff supplied additional perception throughout the Las Vegas Grand Prix, explaining that resulting from “contractual agreements with sponsors,” it could have been attainable for Lewis Hamilton to participate within the check with Ferrari. Nonetheless, the choice to forgo the session might pressure Lewis Hamilton and the workforce to deal with making up for misplaced time in the course of the early phases of the season.
“Fred didn’t ask. I believe it’s a distinction additionally in the event you’re possibly going to Williams, however we’ve contractual agreements with sponsors.” – The Mercedes workforce principal defined final weekend – “We’re having a farewell for Lewis. We’re having numerous actions which are 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 workforce’s Fiorano circuit earlier than pre-season testing formally begins. This outing might present helpful early insights into the automotive’s dealing with and efficiency traits.
Forward of the upcoming Qatar Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton brazenly acknowledged that not collaborating within the Abu Dhabi check 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 crucial: “Am I lacking out on one thing? For certain. It positively delays the method and makes the beginning of the yr more durable, 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 instantly 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 likelihood, Lewis Hamilton acknowledged that the scenario was most likely at all times going to unfold in a manner the place this explicit 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 automotive 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, that they had all these plans that I’ve obtained to go and see among 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 accomplished it. However as a result of I’m contracted to the workforce 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 check. It’s not what I wished to do. I instructed Fred that’s not what I wished to do.” – the seven-time System 1 world champion concluded.
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