Though Lewis Hamilton was not ready to participate within the post-season Pirelli tyre testing with Ferrari, the seven-time F1 champion is anticipated to make his on-track debut with the Scuderia in a two-year-old Ferrari.
Lewis Hamilton introduced his shock departure from Mercedes on the first of February. The announcement caught the Method One neighborhood unexpectedly, because the seven-time world champion was set to race for the Brackley-based outfit till the tip of 2025.
Nonetheless, an exit clause in his contract allowed Hamilton to depart the workforce in 2025 if he wished, and the Briton elected to terminate his contract on the finish of the present season and look for a brand new problem at Ferrari subsequent 12 months.
Hamilton is statistically essentially the most profitable driver within the historical past of Method One, tied with the nice German seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher on the variety of world championship titles.
Though Hamilton was not granted an early launch from Mercedes, he’s anticipated to rack up his first laps with Ferrari earlier than the official pre-season testing will get underway in Bahrain.
Revered Italian publication Auto Racer has just lately prompt that the seven-time F1 champion will full his first laps with Ferrari on both Tuesday, January 21 or Wednesday, January 22.
The precise date depends upon the climate, however the location is anticipated to be Fiorano that’s situated just some minutes from Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters. As for the automobiles, below the Testing of Earlier Automobiles rules, the Scuderia would possibly use the SF-75 from 2022 and the SF-23 from 2023 for the one-day take a look at outing that might assist Hamilton get used to Ferrari’s energy unit, steering wheel and on-track procedures.
Nonetheless, it has emerged that Method One’s sole tyres producer Pirelli can also be planning a tyre take a look at at Magny Cours on the finish of January, which might additionally supply an opportunity for Hamilton to finish his first laps with a Ferrari F1 automobile.
Talking of Hamilton’s potential first on-track day with the Scuderia, Ferrari workforce boss Fred Vasseur stated: “We could have the event to do a TPC or Pirelli take a look at day,” Vasseur stated. “Nevertheless it’s carefully linked to the climate, and we did not take a choice [on a date or venue].
“It is at all times a problem, ranging from the start of January till the launch of the season. It signifies that for positive it’s important that you’ve got solely six weeks [before pre-season testing], it is not straightforward. However I believe he is additionally coming along with his personal expertise. He is not the rookie of the 12 months. It signifies that I am not frightened in any respect about this.
“It is also the continuity of the earlier [technical] rules [from 2024] and so which means for us, now we have some reference. I am not frightened, however it’s true that it is a problem.”
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