JUST IN: Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes decide against early release to ‘end relationship the right way’…Read more
Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes Agree on Respectful Exit; Ferrari Debut Set for 2024 in 2022 Car
Lewis Hamilton’s highly anticipated move to Ferrari will officially begin next year, though fans hoping to see him in Ferrari colors sooner will have to wait a little longer. Despite early hopes from Ferrari, Hamilton and Mercedes have jointly decided against an early release that would have allowed the seven-time world champion to participate in the post-season tyre test in Abu Dhabi for his new team.
Hamilton, 39, had been considered for a quick start with Ferrari at the upcoming Abu Dhabi test. However, it has been confirmed that he will honor a long-standing commitment with Mercedes and its title sponsor Petronas instead, meaning his first outing in Ferrari red will likely be in early 2024, driving a 2022 Ferrari machine under Formula 1’s Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) rules.
The decision to stick to Hamilton’s current schedule was reportedly a mutual one between the driver and Mercedes. Both Hamilton and team principal Toto Wolff discussed the feasibility of altering plans to allow Hamilton to test the Ferrari early, but ultimately agreed that honoring Hamilton’s existing obligations and “ending the relationship the right way” was the priority. Hamilton, who is set to leave Mercedes after 12 seasons with the team and 18 years with the German manufacturer’s engines, has been loyal to his commitments with the team and its sponsors.
Hamilton will be in Kuala Lumpur for the Petronas event while the Abu Dhabi test takes place, and afterward, he is expected to return to the UK to fulfill additional Mercedes commitments before the year ends. No official request was made by Hamilton to exit his Mercedes contract early, further emphasizing the driver’s desire to conclude his long and fruitful relationship with the team on good terms.
While the tyre test in Abu Dhabi would have offered Hamilton an early chance to get familiar with Ferrari, it’s now understood that the Scuderia will make use of TPC days to help him get up to speed. Under the TPC rules, Hamilton is expected to debut in Ferrari’s 2022 car, which was designed to comply with Formula 1’s new era of ground-effect regulations that took effect in that year.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur is confident that Hamilton, who is one of the most experienced drivers in the sport, will not require extensive acclimatization to be competitive. Vasseur mentioned that Hamilton’s experience will allow him to adapt quickly, suggesting that one or two TPC days, plus the pre-season test in Bahrain, will provide sufficient preparation for the 2024 season.
“I’m not sure that he needs tons of hours of acclimatisation,” Vasseur said. “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 [pre-season] test in Bahrain, and that will be enough.”
While Hamilton looks ahead to his new challenge at Ferrari, Mercedes has already begun preparing for life without their longtime star. Hamilton will be replaced by 18-year-old rookie Kimi Antonelli, who will partner with George Russell in the Mercedes lineup for 2024. Antonelli, who has been part of the Mercedes junior program, is viewed as a rising star in Formula 1 and will now face the challenge of filling Hamilton’s sizable shoes.
In a separate development, Liberty Media, the owner of Formula 1, has announced that its president and chief executive Greg Maffei will step down at the end of the year. Maffei has led Liberty since 2006 and oversaw its acquisition of F1 in 2017. His successor, John Malone, 83, will assume control of the company moving forward.
Hamilton’s transition to Ferrari marks the end of an era with Mercedes, but both parties are committed to finishing their relationship on a high note, setting the stage for an exciting new chapter in
the sport for 2024.
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