Outgoing Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz will reportedly enjoy his first laps onboard Williams’ 2024 car earlier than expected.
The Spaniard was initially set to make his debut with the British outfit at F1’s post-season test in Abu Dhabi after Ferrari team boss Fred vasseur agreed to an early release of its driver.
However, according to a report from Motorsport.com, Sainz will now take to the track on the Monday after next week’s season-finale thanks to Williams exploiting its yet unused second filming day.
Sainz will be allowed to complete up to 200 kilometers, or roughly 35 laps of Yas Marina. While limited compared to a full test day, the session will be invaluable for him to fine-tune his driving position and gain initial insights into the car’s handling characteristics.
This preparatory effort is designed to ensure he’s fully acclimatized for the official post-season test that will kick off on Tuesday.
Despite still being a Ferrari driver until the end of 2024, Sainz will run the Williams car in a generic race suit devoid of the team’s usual sponsor logos, a gesture that underscores the collaborative spirit between the teams as they navigate driver transitions.
Joining Sainz at the Abu Dhabi test will be Williams' young talent Luke Browning. The rising star, who has recently progressed to Formula 2, will fulfill the rookie requirement for the test and is also scheduled to participate in the first free practice session of the Grand Prix weekend.
Meanwhile, Ferrari's efforts to secure Lewis Hamilton’s presence at the post-season test were unsuccessful. Discussions with Mercedes fell through due to a prior sponsor commitment for Petronas, meaning Hamilton's Ferrari debut will occur in a previous-generation car at Fiorano in January.
Addressing his non-presence at the test ahead of this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix, Hamilton admitted that he was never excited about the prospect of running in red for the first time in Abu Dhabi,
“Look, I know Fred wanted it to happen. For me, I was in two minds,” commented the Briton ahead of this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix.
“Driving the red car for the first time in Abu Dhabi does not excite me. In a perfect world, you get to drive it, not be seen, and do the first rollout next year.”
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