[ad_1]
Despite the Scuderia’s efforts, the possibility of Lewis Hamilton’s participation with the cavallino in the Formula 1 tests in December, immediately after the last GP in Abu Dhabi, has now been ruled out. What is the scenario to which the Italian team is now leaning.
On the day of the Abu Dhabi test, immediately after this year’s season finale on December 8, Mercedes has scheduled an event for its major sponsor, Petronas, which Lewis is contractually obliged to attend.
As a result, the Maranello team are seriously considering holding a test day for the Briton’s first contact with one of their cars in the early days of the new year.
However, according to regulations, such a test should not use the team’s current car, but one that is at least three years old. Consequently, it is likely that the first Ferrari that Lewis will drive will be the F1-75 of the 2022 season.
Scuderia principal Fred Wasser confirmed that the idea being considered by the team is to use the one or two days of “Test Past Cars” (TPC) they are entitled to during the year to help Hamilton acclimatise.
“He is not sure that he needs countless hours of acclimatization”however, said Wasser speaking to Motorsport.com. “He is experienced enough to be fast from day one, or at least very soon.
So, we’ll do a day or two TPC, plus the Bahrain tests, and that will be enough.” added the Frenchman. The Bahrain tests he is referring to are the 2025 car development three-day event on February 26-28.
Consequently, the most likely scenario is that we will see Lewis Hamilton in the cockpit of a Ferrari for the first time in early 2025, presumably at Ferrari’s Fiorano circuit, located next to the Maranello factory.
Wasser concluded by saying that “part of the team is already focusing on 2025, the plan for testing, communication, etc., and Lewis is part of that.”
[ad_2]