P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Lewis Hamilton has revealed he told Ferrari he didn’t want to make his debut with the team at F1’s post-season test even had Mercedes given him permission.
The post-season run-out in Abu Dhabi is an opportunity for drivers changing teams to prepare for the next season, but Lewis Hamilton won’t be participating in it as he is making the switch to Ferrari in 2025. Due to prior commitments, Mercedes will not release Hamilton for the test. Even though Ferrari allowed Carlos Sainz, whom Hamilton will replace, to test with Williams, Hamilton’s test with Ferrari will have to wait until 2025 as per contractual obligations. Hamilton and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff discussed the situation and decided it’s best for Hamilton not to participate in the post-season test. Hamilton has expressed that driving the red car for the first time in Abu Dhabi does not excite him, and he prefers to conduct his initial appearance with Ferrari in a more private setting next year.
