Two days after tomorrow’s F1 season concludes in Abu Dhabi, a number of drivers changing teams for 2025 will get a head start in the post-race test.Williams had already confirmed Carlos Sainz will test for them around Yas Marina, and others making swaps are expected to do the same. It may only be a day in a car that’ll never be raced again, but it’s still a chance to get to know a new team’s people and how they work.So why won’t Lewis Hamilton be doing the same with Ferrari?It’s the biggest move in F1 history as the sport’s most successful driver links up with the sport’s most successful team. But Hamilton won’t don the famed red overalls until early next year.In Qatar, Hamilton said that while Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur was eager for it to happen, he always felt in “two minds” about doing the test:💬 “Driving the red car for the first time in Abu Dhabi does not excite me. In a perfect world, you’d get to drive it and not be seen and do the first rollout next year.”Besides the lack of romanticism involved with the post-season test, there was also the contractual element: Hamilton remains a Mercedes man until the end of the year, and the team has a farewell tour planned for him with a number of its partners. Hamilton added:💬 “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 some farewells. “So I don’t think it was ever going to actually be allowed, even if I’d asked to have done it, because I’m contracted to the team until December 31, and that’s totally fine.“But it doesn’t bother me, because I wasn’t going to do the test. I told Fred that’s not what I wanted to do.”

Just two days following the conclusion of the F1 season in Abu Dhabi, several drivers who will be switching teams for 2025 are set to begin their preparations during the post-race test. Williams has already announced that Carlos Sainz will participate in the test at Yas Marina, and other drivers undergoing team changes are anticipated […]

Just two days following the conclusion of the F1 season in Abu Dhabi, several drivers who will be switching teams for 2025 are set to begin their preparations during the post-race test.

Williams has already announced that Carlos Sainz will participate in the test at Yas Marina, and other drivers undergoing team changes are anticipated to follow suit. While it may just be a single day driving a car that won’t see competition again, it provides an opportunity to familiarize oneself with a new team’s personnel and operations.

So, why will Lewis Hamilton not take part in this with Ferrari?

This represents the most significant transition in F1 history, as the sport’s most accomplished driver joins forces with its most triumphant team. However, Hamilton won’t wear the iconic red race suit until early next year.

In Qatar, Hamilton expressed that although Ferrari’s team principal Fred Vasseur was keen for the test to happen, he always felt conflicted about participating:

💬 “Getting behind the wheel of the red car for the first time in Abu Dhabi doesn’t thrill me. Ideally, you’d want to drive it without any spectators and do the first rollout next year.”

Apart from the lack of nostalgia associated with the end-of-season test, there’s also a contractual factor: Hamilton is still a Mercedes driver until the year closes, and the team has arranged a farewell tour involving several of its partners. Hamilton continued:

💬 “When I brought it up with Toto (Wolff), they mentioned all these plans for me to meet some sponsors and say my goodbyes.

“Thus, I don’t believe it was ever going to be permissible, even if I had requested to do it, because I’m under contract with the team until December 31, and that’s perfectly acceptable.

“But I’m not bothered by it, since I wasn’t interested in doing the test. I informed Fred that this was not what I wanted.”