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 is not going to have the chance to familiarize himself with Ferrari’s equipment till the New Yr. This delay may affect his preparation and understanding of the automobile’s intricacies forward of the 2024 Components 1 season.
Mercedes workforce boss Toto Wolff supplied additional perception throughout the Las Vegas Grand Prix, explaining that as a result of “contractual agreements with sponsors,” it could 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 workforce to give attention to making up for misplaced time in the course of the early levels of the season.
“Fred didn’t ask. I believe it’s a distinction additionally if you happen to’re possibly going to Williams, however we’ve got contractual agreements with sponsors.” – The Mercedes workforce principal defined final weekend – “We’re having a farewell for Lewis. We’re having numerous actions which can 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 predicted to have the chance to familiarize himself with the 2022 Ferrari throughout a personal session on the workforce’s Fiorano circuit earlier than pre-season testing formally begins. This outing may present beneficial early insights into the automobile’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 may 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 positive. 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 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 scenario was in all probability all the time going to unfold in a means the place this specific 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. Once I did race it, clearly with Toto, they’d all these plans that I’ve acquired to go and see a few 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 finished it. However as a result of I’m contracted to the workforce till December thirty first, and that’s completely positive. But it surely 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 advised Fred that’s not what I needed to do.” – the seven-time Components 1 world champion concluded.
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