Lewis Hamilton has opted not to make his Ferrari debut during the post-Abu Dhabi Grand Prix test, telling future boss Frederic Vasseur he wasn't eager to jump into the red car so soon.
While Carlos Sainz, whom Hamilton will replace at Ferrari in 2025, will test for his new team Williams after the Abu Dhabi season finale, Hamilton will be focusing on pre-arranged commitments with Mercedes.
"I don't want to block him," Vasseur said, referring to Sainz.
As for Hamilton, Vasseur explained that Ferrari did not pursue the matter with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, citing contractual obligations. "They have a contract, so I didn't even ask Toto," Vasseur said.
Wolff confirmed: "Fred didn't ask. I think it maybe makes a difference if you're going to Williams, but we have contractual agreements with sponsors."
Hamilton, 39, is preparing for a post-season "farewell tour" after spending over a decade with Mercedes, which includes numerous events and sponsor commitments.
"Lewis and I spoke about it briefly and he said, 'I guess that (the Abu Dhabi test) is not going to work.' And I said, 'Yeah, I don't think it's going to work,'" Wolff said.
Hamilton admitted in Qatar that missing the test could leave him slightly disadvantaged when he begins his Ferrari tenure.
"It will definitely slow down the process and make the start of next year more difficult, but we will do everything we can to make up for it," he said.
The seven-time world champion also shared his personal reasons for skipping the test.
"I know that Fred wanted me to do the test, but I was in two minds," Hamilton explained. "The idea of getting behind the wheel of a red car for the first time in Abu Dhabi did not excite me too much. In an ideal world, I would like the first runs to be done without much scrutiny.
"Toto and the team had planned ahead for me to meet some sponsors and say goodbye to them, so I don't think I would have been allowed to take part in the tests even if I had asked," he added.
Hamilton revealed that he had informed Vasseur of his feelings well in advance. "I have a contract with Mercedes until December 31, and it is not a problem for me because I told Fred in advance that I didn't really want to do it."
