Hamilton Clarifies He Didn't Want Post-Season Test With Ferrari

Friday, 29 November 2024 at 20:00

Lewis Hamilton discussed the situation around the post-season test with Ferrari, why he won't participate, and how he feels about it.

The seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton will be leaving Mercedes and and replacing Carlos Sainz in Ferrari at the start of 2025.

The Spaniard will head to Williams Racing and while Ferrari allowed him to participate in the post-season test with Mercedes, Hamilton won't be allowed to take part in the post-season test in Abi Dhabi with Ferrari.

The team principal of the Italian team, Fred Vasseur, said he wanted to grant Sainz a last favor as a thank you. On the other hand, he didn't ask Toto Wolff to do the same.

Speaking to the media in Las Vegas, Wolff explained that testing with Ferrari isn't an option for Hamilton due to contractual agreements with sponsors and farewell events. Moreover, Hamilton is signed with Mercedes until December 31st.

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During the press day ahead of the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix, the 39-year-old F1 driver was asked about his view on the post-season testing, and he replied:

"For me, I was in two minds. Driving the red car for the first time in Abu Dhabi does not excite me. In a perfect world, you'd get to drive it and not be seen and do the first rollout next year."

Driving Ferrari's 2024 car ahead of the 2025 season and getting to know the team better would be a very valuable opportunity for Hamilton.

On the other hand, the team from Maranello will prepare a few testing sessions with 2022 or 2023 models for the 39-year-old before the 2025 season starts. Hamilton continued:

"When I did raise it, obviously with Toto, they had all these plans that I've got to go and see some of the sponsors and say their farewells."

"So I don't think it was ever going to actually be allowed, even if I'd asked to have done it. But because I'm contracted to the team until December 31."

"And that's totally fine. It doesn't bother me, again, because I wasn't going to do the test. It's not what I wanted to do, I told Fred that's not what I wanted to do."