Hamilton in “two minds” over Ferrari run at Abu Dhabi check

Lewis Hamilton admits now not becoming a member of Ferrari for the Abu Dhabi check makes the begin to then pace tougher – even supposing deep ailing by no means sought after his first run to be there.

The seven-time champion is shifting from Mercedes to Ferrari for then season, later agreeing a offer to secured the well-known Maranello squad previous this pace.

In a bid to assistance his acclimatisation to his pristine workforce, Ferrari boss Fred Vaseur had enquired about the potential for getting retain of Hamilton for a era’s working within the post-season Abu Dhabi check that takes playground at the Tuesday later the F1 season finale.

However, with Mercedes making plans a line of promotional adieu occasions for Hamilton in December – which incorporates a Petronas tournament in Malaysia at the era of the check – Ferrari has been informed that the Briton may not be to be had.

Pace that implies Hamilton will lose a primary alternative to have were given worn to a pristine cockpit and guidance wheel, and get some early impressions of the Ferrari automobile, he admits himself that he used to be by no means too keen on a debut run taking playground on the Yas Marina circuit.

He would like that first Ferrari look to be a lot more low-key, clear of the glare of the media highlight and in a a long way much less society enviornment.

Talking about now not collaborating within the Abu Dhabi check, Hamilton stated: “Glance, I do know Fred sought after it to occur. For me, I used to be in two minds.

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15

Picture by way of: Andy Hone / Motorsport Photographs

“Riding the crimson automobile for the primary day in Abu Dhabi does now not excite me. In an ideal global, you get to power it, now not be open, and do the primary rollout then pace.

“When I did raise it, obviously with Toto [Wolff], 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 had asked to have done it, because I’m contracted to the team until December 31st and that’s totally fine. But it doesn’t bother me again because I wasn’t going to do the test.”

He added: “It’s now not what I sought after to do. I informed Fred that’s now not what I sought after to do.

“Am I missing out on something? For sure. It definitely delays the process and makes the start of the year harder, but we’ll do our best to recover.”

As distinguishable by way of Autosport, Ferrari is making plans to offer Hamilton his first run in a prior automobile – which can both be its 2022 or 2023 challenger.

This may most likely pull playground at Fiorano in January, forward of the primary pre-season check in Bahrain in February.

Vasseur believes that simply a few days of working within the impaired automobile, allied to mileage in Bahrain, will probably be greater than plenty to get Hamilton up to the mark.

Frederic Vasseur, Workforce Essential and Normal Supervisor, Scuderia Ferrari, within the Press Convention

Picture by way of: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Photographs

“I’m not sure that he needs tons of hours of acclimatisation,” Vasseur informed Autosport not too long ago.

“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.”