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Lewis Hamilton is expected to make his first appearance for Ferrari in 2025 and reports tell Mercedes choosing not to have him participate in the post-season tyre test in Abu Dhabi for the Scuderia. Ferrari had hoped that Hamilton, who is set to join the team in 2024, might be released early from his contract with Mercedes to take part in the Abu Dhabi test. However, Hamilton will instead be in Kuala Lumpur fulfilling a longstanding commitment to Mercedes' title sponsor, Petronas.
Mercedes- Hamilton closure
Sources close to the team revealed that Hamilton and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff did discuss the possibility of switching plans, but ultimately they decided it would be better for Hamilton to honor his prior commitments, including other obligations in the UK, to "end the relationship in the right way."
It’s understood that Hamilton did not formally request an early exit from his contract. In fact, he is said to be looking forward to his Ferrari debut at Fiorano, which is located near the team's Maranello headquarters.
After 12 seasons with Mercedes and 18 years with the German manufacturer's engines, Hamilton will join Ferrari next season. Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur confirmed to *Autosport* that the initial plan to help Hamilton get up to speed would involve using one or two of the team’s Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) days.
Formula One's TPC regulations allow teams to run cars from the previous three seasons. This means Hamilton will likely make his debut in a 2022 Ferrari, which was designed under the new ground-effect regulations.
“I’m not sure that he needs tons of hours of acclimatisation. 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.
“For sure we have part of the team already focusing on ’25, on the test plan, on the communication and so, with Lewis being part of this. But not on the race team and it’s not on my mind," Vasseur said.
Hamilton will be replaced in the Mercedes lineup by 18-year-old rookie Kimi Antonelli, who will join Briton George Russell.
