Mercedes’s contract obligation is forced Lewis Hamilton to wait to make a Formula 1 debut in Ferrari color until 2025.
Hamilton announced that it would shock the F1 world the night before the 2024 season and leave Mercedes at the end of this year.
The seven-time world champion, who spent 18 years with the German marque via the factory team and McLaren, will join Ferrari in 2025 on a multi-year deal.
In the past, the Abu Dhabi post-season test has given drivers the opportunity to try new Formula 1 machinery for the first time after switching teams, but that will not be the case for Hamilton.
BBC Sport’s Andrew Benson wrote that there was “zero chance” of Hamilton making his Ferrari debut in December.
“They say Hamilton has a contract with Mercedes until the end of the year but will likely not be able to test for Ferrari after the end of the season because there’s a lot of promotion and parting business to be done after 12 years together and 18 years with a Mercedes engine.”
Other riders have had more success by moving to a new team early. Fernando Alonso was testing with Aston Martin during the 2022 post-season testing in Abu Dhabi shortly after taking off his alpine suit for the last time.
But beyond contractual and promotional obligations, it is in Mercedes’ best interests to delay Hamilton’s departure to Ferrari as long as possible, given that the Scuderia is a direct rival of the Brackley-based F1 team. Williams eye early debut for Carlos Sainz as Lewis Hamilton moves to Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton isn’t the only one taking a big step up in his Formula 1 career this off-season.
The man Hamilton is replacing at Ferrari, Carlos Sainz, will join Williams on a multi-year deal starting in 2025.
Williams team principal James Voorhees is keen to welcome Sainz to the Grove team as soon as possible, and to this end, Voorhees has opened negotiations with Ferrari to release the Spaniard from his contract during post-season testing.
“We still need to agree terms with Ferrari. He’s under contract with Ferrari until the end of 2024,” Vores told Motorsport Week and other media.
But I hope to see him in the car in Abu Dhabi.
There is no hope that Hamilton will wear all red in Abu Dhabi, and his debut will take place while Ferrari is testing the 2025 car.
The seven-time world champion will share the love of the tifosi with Charles Leclerc as he embarks on the next chapter of his illustrious Formula 1 career.