Lewis Hamilton‘s debut Formula 1 outing in a Ferrari is poised to take place in the team’s 2022 car next term amid an absence from the post-season test in Abu Dhabi.
Hamilton will embark upon a much-anticipated venture with Ferrari in 2025, having made the decision over the winter to end his prolonged partnership with Mercedes.
The post-season run out that succeeds the last event at the Yas Marina Circuit provides a chance for drivers changing teams to get a headstart on the next campaign.
However, that is dependent on a driver’s current outfit being prepared to sanction an earlier release, which Mercedes isn’t with Hamilton due to planned commitments.
Hamilton won’t even be present in Abu Dhabi while the test is unravelling, as he is scheduled to make an appearance for Mercedes’ title sponsor Petronas on that day.
That means the earliest opening to see Hamilton sample a Ferrari car will be 2025, but the Italian marque has plans to ensure that happens before pre-season testing.
Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur has disclosed the team intends to allocate as much as two of its ‘Testing of Previous Cars’ days to the Briton to accelerate his adaption.
“I’m not sure that he needs tons of hours of acclimatisation,” Vasseur told Autosport.
“He is experienced enough to be quick on the first day, or at least very soon. We’ll have one or two TPC days, plus the test in Bahrain, and that will be enough.”
Hamilton poised to test Ferrari’s 2022 car
With the ongoing season constituting the third campaign under the current regulations, the teams have been permitted to test with the 2022 cars that started this era.
That should guarantee that Hamilton’s opening Ferrari laps arrive in the team’s 2022 challenger, the F1-75, a car which delivered four race victories during that season.
Hamilton’s initial run ought to be held at Ferrari’s Fiorano test track where Sebastian Vettel, the last multiple-time champion it signed, conducted his debut shakedown.
Meanwhile, Vasseur also divulged that preparation was ongoing at Maranello to establish a programme that will allow Hamilton to get up to speed with its operations.
“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,” the Frenchman added.
“But not on the race team and it’s not on my mind.”
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