Lewis Hamilton has acknowledged that lacking the prospect to drive for Ferrari through the post-season Abu Dhabi F1 take a look at will pose further 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 automotive.
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 12 months. This delay might affect his preparation and understanding of the automotive’s intricacies forward of the 2024 Components 1 season.
Mercedes staff boss Toto Wolff offered additional perception throughout the Las Vegas Grand Prix, explaining that attributable to “contractual agreements with sponsors,” it might have been doable for Lewis Hamilton to participate within the take a look at with Ferrari. Nevertheless, the choice to forgo the session could pressure Lewis Hamilton and the staff to concentrate on making up for misplaced time through the early levels of the season.
“Fred didn’t ask. I believe it’s a distinction additionally should you’re possibly going to Williams, however we now have contractual agreements with sponsors.” – The Mercedes staff principal defined final weekend – “We’re having a farewell for Lewis. We’re having a lot of actions which are deliberate. And him and I, we spoke about it shortly, and he mentioned, I suppose that’s not going to work. I don’t assume it’s going to work. And that was the entire thing. So I don’t assume Fred is especially unhappy.” – he identified through 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 staff’s Fiorano circuit earlier than pre-season testing formally begins. This outing might present worthwhile 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 take a look at represents a setback. He admitted that this missed monitor time might 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 positively delays the method and makes the beginning of the 12 months more durable, however we’ll do our greatest to recuperate.” – the long run 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. Nevertheless, 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 state of affairs was most likely at all times going to unfold in a approach 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 purple 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 12 months. Once I did race it, clearly with Toto, they’d all these plans that I’ve obtained to go and see a number of the sponsors and say their farewells. So I don’t assume it was ever going to truly be allowed, even when I’d requested to have executed it. However as a result of I’m contracted to the staff till December thirty first, and that’s completely high quality. 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 instructed Fred that’s not what I needed to do.” – the seven-time Components 1 world champion concluded.
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