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Lewis Hamilton will NOT drive for Ferrari during Abu Dhabi testing as Mercedes have 'given no indication' they will let the F1 legend out of their end-of-season promotional commitments Lewis Hamilton will drive for Mercedes one last time after the Abu Dhabi GP Ferrari will integrate Hamilton into the team in time for 2025 pre-season testing By YASEEN ZAMAN Published: 11:12 GMT, 14 November 2024 | Updated: 11:12 GMT, 14 November 2024 e-mail 9 shares View comments Lewis Hamilton may have to wait until 2025 before he gets behind the wheel of a Ferrari, according to a report. The seven-time champion will not join them for post-season testing later this year, as Mercedes want to keep him for end-of-year promotional commitments. Amid a tumultuous final year with the Silver Arrows, Hamilton has revealed that he cannot wait for this season to be over.
After finishing P10 last time out in Sao Paulo, he mentioned how he is already looking forward to Christmas . However, his sponsorship responsibilities to Mercedes mean that the chances of their 12-year relationship ending immediately after the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi on December 8 are low. All constructors will run a tyre test two days after that race and Mercedes have given no indication that Hamilton can escape these duties.
Lewis Hamilton will not drive for Ferrari during post-season testing in Abu Dhabi this year The Brit will have to wait until 2025 to begin his new chapter with the Scuderia in Maranello Hamilton finished 10th in Brazil in what is proving to be a difficult campaign for the 39-year-old Ferrari had some lingering hope that the Brit could join them for testing on the Tuesday after the season finale, but this wish has been denied. Hamilton will have to show face for Mercedes' title sponsor Petronas on the day of the test, according to Autosport . Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur revealed that his new driver will only need a couple of days to settle in, given his experience.
'I'm not sure that he needs tons of hours of acclimatisation,' he said. 'He is experienced enough to be quick on the first day, or at least very soon. We'll have one or two TPC [Testing of Previous Cars] days, plus the test in Bahrain, and that will be enough.
' Read More EXCLUSIVE Monaco Grand Prix to STAY on F1 calendar until at least 2031 In the off-season, F1's TPC rules allow teams to run cars that have been 'designed and constructed in order to comply with the Technical Regulations of any of the three calendar years falling immediately prior to the calendar year preceding the year of the championship.' Vasseur explained that Ferrari have a plan to integrate Hamilton into the team at the start of 2025. However, with three races remaining this season, and the Scuderia only 36 points behind McLaren in the constructor standings, his focus is solely on that fight.
'For sure we have part of the team already focusing on '25, on the test plan, on the communication and so, with Lewis being part of this,' he added. 'But not on the race team and it's not on my mind.' Lewis Hamilton Share or comment on this article: Lewis Hamilton will NOT drive for Ferrari during Abu Dhabi testing as Mercedes have 'given no indication' they will let the F1 legend out of their end-of-season promotional commitments e-mail 9 shares Add comment.
