Lewis Hamilton has acknowledged that lacking the possibility to drive for Ferrari throughout the post-season Abu Dhabi F1 take a look at will pose extra challenges firstly 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 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 group boss Toto Wolff supplied additional perception throughout the Las Vegas Grand Prix, explaining that on account of “contractual agreements with sponsors,” it could have been attainable for Lewis Hamilton to participate within the take a look at with Ferrari. Nevertheless, the choice to forgo the session might drive Lewis Hamilton and the group to give attention to making up for misplaced time throughout the early phases of the season.
“Fred didn’t ask. I believe it’s a distinction additionally in the event you’re perhaps going to Williams, however we’ve got contractual agreements with sponsors.” – The Mercedes group principal defined final weekend – “We’re having a farewell for Lewis. We’re having a lot of actions which can be 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 non-public session on the group’s Fiorano circuit earlier than pre-season testing formally begins. This outing may present helpful 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 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 positive. 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. 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 scenario was in all probability 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 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 12 months. After I did race it, clearly with Toto, they’d all these plans that I’ve received 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 performed it. However as a result of I’m contracted to the group till December thirty first, and that’s completely positive. 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 needed to do. I advised Fred that’s not what I needed to do.” – the seven-time System 1 world champion concluded.
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