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Several drivers will get an early start on preparations with their new Formula 1 teams in December’s Abu Dhabi test – but not Lewis Hamilton with Ferrari.
The seven-time F1 world champion is leaving Mercedes at the end of 2024, having signed a shock multi-year Ferrari deal before the current season even began.
It is the biggest move of all the driver line-up changes for 2025, and kicked off a frenetic driver market this year.
Because of his longevity with Mercedes and his unique profile, though, Hamilton will have to wait longer than most drivers to join up with his new team, rather than being afforded an early contract break.
Current drivers are usually allowed to participate in the post-season Abu Dhabi test with the team they are joining for the following season, although there are occasionally exceptions.
Hamilton’s Ferrari predecessor Carlos Sainz will drive for Williams in the test and Alpine will let Esteban Ocon get his first Haas run. It's understood that Nico Hulkenberg has been cleared by Haas to join Sauber too.
“I wanted to say thank you for the collaboration,” Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur said about Sainz being allowed to drive for Williams.
“I didn’t want to block him or whatever. He did a very good job with us this season ,a very professional one. It would have been easy, not to give up, but not have as professional attitude.
“The best way to thank Carlos was to give him the test with Williams.”
DISPENSATION IS USUALLY GIVEN
This has been permitted in the past, too. Mercedes previously allowed Valtteri Bottas to drive with Sauber at the end of 2021. Another example is when Aston Martin got around commercial restrictions with Fernando Alonso running in an unliveried car (pictured above) at the end of 2022 – the same year McLaren got permission to run Oscar Piastri at the test despite his acrimonious exit from Alpine.
In the modern era with a restricted post-season test, sometimes drivers have not been able to drive for regulatory reasons.
In 2020 Sainz (switching from McLaren to Ferrari), Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari to Racing Point/Aston Martin) and Daniel Ricciardo (Renault to McLaren) were unable to drive but that is because the test was technically exclusively for young drivers, despite Alonso (ahead of his return the following season), Robert Kubica and Sebastien Buemi being given permission to participate.
And this year, Ollie Bearman is ineligible for the Haas ‘young driver’ car after making his third F1 start in Brazil.
But Hamilton is set to be the exception amongst the drivers switching teams for 2025 and a rare case in the broader recent history of the post-season test - although it is not unprecedented.
Ricciardo was blocked by Red Bull from joining Renault ahead of his 2019 move, which was no surprise given the two organisations' toxic relationship and how much Ricciardo had upset Red Bull with his decision to switch.
Further back, Red Bull also denied Vettel the chance to test with Ferrari at the end of 2014, which Vettel said was a U-turn having initially been given permission to do so.
FAREWELL TOUR
A Hamilton denial was always likely because of his complex contractual arrangements and the fact Mercedes and Ferrari are rivals.
Hamilton has locked-in commitments with Mercedes and it was reported this autumn that he would have a whirlwind farewell tour of Mercedes’ key locations: the team and engine factories in the UK, Mercedes’ headquarters in Germany, and also long-time partner Petronas in Malaysia.
Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff said: “We have contractual agreements with sponsors, we’re having a farewell for Lewis.
“A lot of activities that are planned. Him and I, we spoke about it briefly, and he said ‘I guess that’s not going to work’, and I said ‘Yeah I don’t think it’s going to work’.
“I don’t think Fred is particularly sad.”
FERRARI DIDN’T ASK
While it was briefly discussed between Hamilton and Mercedes, Ferrari didn’t ask directly to run Hamilton at the test.
Vasseur says that is because Hamilton has an existing contract, but it may also reflect the shock nature of how it swooped for Hamilton last winter and the fact the two teams are direct competitors – as Wolff said “it’s also a difference maybe if you’re going to Williams” in reference to Ferrari letting Sainz test for his new team.
Asked alongside Wolff in the Las Vegas press conference on Thursday night if he was indeed “sad” or not, Vasseur replied: “No, but there is a contract we have to respect.
“It’s not because we’re doing something for Carlos, that he [Wolff] has to do the same.
“As Toto said, I didn’t ask Toto.”
WHEN HAMILTON’S FIRST FERRARI TEST WILL HAPPEN
As a result, Hamilton’s first run in a Ferrari F1 car will come next year – although he will probably not wait until pre-season testing as Ferrari has a prolific programme with older cars, so it is likely Hamilton will drive a current-era Ferrari at Fiorano to start bedding himself into the team.
HOW IS THE HAMILTON/MERCEDES RELATIONSHIP?
The fact Hamilton is effectively being denied an early Ferrari switch is not indicative of a problematic Mercedes departure.
Speaking in Las Vegas, Wolff said he is “quite proud of what we’ve achieved to maintain the professional relationship like we have” because “we knew it was never going to be easy”.
There has been speculation about the quality of Hamilton’s relationship with the team in the wake of comments he made in Brazil that sparked suggestions he might quit early, and also the revelation of comments from Wolff made for a Mercedes insider book about Hamilton’s exit ultimately being a good thing for the team because of the “shelf life” people have.
Hamilton admitted in Vegas that he did feel like “I didn’t really want to come back after that weekend” in Brazil but said that was just his reaction to a bad race in the moment. He also reiterated his desire to leave Mercedes on good terms.
“It’s frustrating when you have a season like this, which I’m pretty sure I won’t have again, or at least I’ll work towards not having again,” said Hamilton.
“It wasn’t a great feeling in that moment.
“I’m here, standing strong, and I’m going to give it absolutely everything for these last races.”
Asked if he had a point to prove in the final three races in the wake of Wolff’s comments emerging, Hamilton said he did not consider that like the “many microaggressions” he has experienced from others outside of Mercedes.
“I’m still here, still fighting, continuing to push,” he said.
“[It is] a team I genuinely still love, even though I’m leaving.
“I want to make sure I give them the best I can in the next races.
“If they provide a car that wants to stay on track, then hopefully we’ll have a better result.”
