Mercedes‘ contractual obligations mean Lewis Hamilton will be made to wait until 2025 to make his Formula 1 debut in Ferrari colours.
Hamilton shocked the F1 world on the eve of the 2024 season when he announced he’d be departing Mercedes at the end of this year.
The seven-time World Champion, after 18 years associated with the German marque through its works team and McLaren, will join Ferrari in 2025, embarking on a multi-year deal.
In the past, the Abu Dhabi post-season test has given drivers their first taste of new F1 machinery after a switch of teams, but that won’t be the case for Hamilton.
BBC Sport’s Andrew Benson wrote there is “zero” chance of Hamilton making his Ferrari debut this December.
“Hamilton is under contract to Mercedes until the end of the year, and they say he cannot test for Ferrari at the end of the season, as they have a lot of promotional and farewell work to do after 12 years together – and 18 with Mercedes engines.”
Other drivers have fared better when it comes to making an early switch to a new team.
Fernando Alonso was testing with Aston Martin in the 2022 Abu Dhabi post-season test, right after hanging up his Alpine overalls for the final time.
However, contractual and promotional obligations aside, it’s in Mercedes’ best interest to leave Hamilton’s departure to Ferrari as late as possible, given the Scuderia is a direct rival of the Brackley-based F1 outfit.
Williams seeking early Carlos Sainz debut amid Lewis Hamilton Ferrari switch
Lewis Hamilton isn’t the only one making a major F1 career move this offseason.
The man Hamilton is replacing at Ferrari, Carlos Sainz, is heading to Williams on a multi-year deal starting in 2025.
Williams Team Principal James Vowles is eager to get Sainz within the Grove-based outfit as soon as possible.
To that end, Vowles has entered discussions with Ferrari in order to release the Spaniard from his contract for the post-season test.
“We still have to agree terms with Ferrari, he’s under contract at Ferrari until the end of 2024,” Vowles told media including Motorsport Week.
“However, I do hope to see him in the car in Abu Dhabi.”
There’s no such hope for Hamilton to be in scarlet red in Abu Dhabi, meaning his debut will come via Ferrari’s shakedown of its 2025 machine.
The seven-time world champion will be sharing the Tifosi affection with Charles Leclerc as he embarks on the next chapter of his glittering F1 career.
READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton recalls ‘terrifying’ experience telling Toto Wolff about Ferrari F1 move
