Lewis Hamilton: Why He's Not Racing In Bahrain

Lewis Hamilton is not racing in Bahrain because he is still under contract with Mercedes. The seven-time world champion is leaving Mercedes after 12 seasons and will switch to Ferrari for the 2025 season. However, his contract with Mercedes includes end-of-year promotional commitments, which he is expected to fulfil, including an appearance for Mercedes' sponsor Petronas. As a result, Mercedes has given no indication that they will release him early to participate in post-season testing with Ferrari.

Lewis Hamilton is leaving Mercedes after 12 seasons

Hamilton's move to Ferrari was announced on February 1, 2024, prior to the start of the current season. The timing of the announcement left Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff unable to react in the driver market, as many leading drivers had already signed contract extensions with their current teams. Wolff admitted that he always knew Hamilton could leave, given that they had only agreed to a one-plus-one-year deal. However, he was surprised by the timing of Hamilton's decision, as Mercedes had not yet determined whether they would be competitive for the 2024 season.

Despite the shock of Hamilton's departure, Wolff maintains that their relationship remains strong. Hamilton echoed this sentiment, stating that while he is "ending a relationship that's perfectly fine," he still has faith in the team and views their friendship as extending beyond business.

Hamilton's final races with Mercedes have been challenging, with the Brazilian Grand Prix being a particularly difficult race for the veteran driver. Hamilton described his car as a "plank of wood," and the worst car he has ever driven. He trails his teammate, George Russell, in the Drivers' Championship.

Hamilton's move to Ferrari may provide a fresh start, as their car could be more suited to his driving style.

Hamilton will switch to Ferrari for the 2025 season

Lewis Hamilton will not be racing in Bahrain as he has a contract with Mercedes until the end of the 2024 season. Hamilton has had a long association with Mercedes, dating back to when he was 13 years old. However, it was recently announced that he will be leaving the team after the current season to join Ferrari for the 2025 season. This move has come as a shock to many, as Hamilton had only signed a two-year contract with Mercedes for 2024-2025. Despite this, Hamilton has decided to activate a release clause in his contract, allowing him to make the switch to Ferrari.

Hamilton's decision to leave Mercedes was not a complete surprise to team principal Toto Wolff, who admitted that it was "always on my radar" that Hamilton could leave, given their inability to agree on a longer-term deal. However, the timing of the decision did catch Wolff off guard, as Hamilton made the call before knowing if Mercedes would be competitive for the 2024 season.

Hamilton himself has stated that the move to Ferrari is a "bucket list moment" for him, and he is excited to take on a new challenge. He will be joining Ferrari on a multi-year contract and will be replacing Spanish driver Carlos Sainz, who is expected to move to Audi when Sauber becomes their works team in 2026. Hamilton's departure from Mercedes will mark the end of a highly successful era for the team, with Hamilton having won seven world championships and 103 races during his time with them.

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has played down the need for Hamilton to undergo extensive testing with their cars, stating that Hamilton is "experienced enough to be quick on the first day, or at least very soon". However, it is unlikely that Hamilton will get behind the wheel of a Ferrari this year, as Mercedes want to keep him for end-of-year promotional commitments, including an appearance for their sponsor Petronas.

Hamilton's move to Ferrari will no doubt be one of the biggest stories in Formula One for 2025 and will be a major topic of discussion on the popular Netflix show "Drive to Survive". It remains to be seen how Hamilton will perform with his new team, but his experience and proven track record of success make him a valuable addition to any team.

Hamilton has promotional commitments with Mercedes in Abu Dhabi

Lewis Hamilton will not be racing in Bahrain as he has promotional commitments with Mercedes in Abu Dhabi. The seven-time world champion is leaving Mercedes after 12 seasons and switching to the Italian team Ferrari for the 2025 season. However, his sponsorship responsibilities to Mercedes mean that the chances of their 12-year relationship ending immediately after the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi are low.

All constructors will run a tyre test two days after the final race, and Mercedes has given no indication that Hamilton can be excused from these duties. Hamilton will have to make an appearance for Mercedes' title sponsor, Petronas, on the day of the test.

Hamilton's move to Ferrari was announced on February 1, 2024, prior to the start of the current season. Toto Wolff, the team principal, revealed that he always knew Hamilton could leave, given that they had only agreed to a one-plus-one-year deal. Wolff admitted that the timing of Hamilton's decision put him on the back foot, leaving him unable to react in the driver market as multiple leading drivers had already signed contract extensions with their current teams.

Despite this, Wolff maintains that their relationship remains strong. Hamilton echoed this message, stating that while he is ending his relationship with Mercedes, they are "still in love".

Mercedes have given no indication they will release Hamilton early

Lewis Hamilton's 12-year relationship with Mercedes is coming to an end, with the seven-time world champion set to join Ferrari in 2025. However, it appears that Hamilton will have to wait until next year to get behind the wheel of a Ferrari, as Mercedes has given no indication that they will release him early from his commitments.

Hamilton is still under contract with Mercedes and has promotional commitments to fulfil for the team's sponsor, Petronas, after the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi in December. All constructors will run a tyre test two days after that race, and Mercedes has not suggested that Hamilton will be exempt from these duties.

Hamilton's departure from Mercedes for Ferrari in 2025 came as a surprise to many, and the timing of his decision left team principal Toto Wolff unable to react in the driver market. Despite this, Wolff maintains that he always knew Hamilton could leave and that the decision was not unexpected. In the recently released book, 'Inside Mercedes F1: Life in the Fast Lane', Wolff revealed that he and Hamilton remain on good terms, stating, "I'm thick-skinned...I've had some pretty tough moments in my life, and this doesn't compare."

Hamilton's final races with Mercedes have been difficult, with the driver struggling to adapt to the team's F1 car. At the Brazilian Grand Prix, Hamilton described the car as a "plank of wood" and the "worst car he'd ever driven". Despite these challenges, Hamilton will drive for Mercedes one last time after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Hamilton's first drive in a Ferrari F1 car will likely take place in January

Lewis Hamilton's first drive in a Ferrari F1 car will likely take place in January at the team's Fiorano test track. This is because Hamilton is still under contract with Mercedes, who have committed him to some end-of-year promotional commitments, including an appearance for team title sponsor Petronas on the same day as the Abu Dhabi tyre test.

Hamilton is leaving Mercedes after 12 seasons and will switch to the Italian team Ferrari for 2025. However, Mercedes has given no indication that they will release him early from his promotional duties, which include an appearance for their sponsor Petronas on the day of the Abu Dhabi test.

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur revealed that the team has a plan to integrate Hamilton into the team at the start of 2025. He also said that Hamilton will likely only need a couple of days to settle in, given his experience. Vasseur commented:

> '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 [Testing of Previous Cars] days, plus the test in Bahrain, and that will be enough.'

Due to F1's strict TPC testing regulations, the latest Ferrari car Hamilton could drive would be the 2022 car, the F1-75, which won four races and took 12 pole positions that season.

Frequently asked questions