Ferrari's recent hire spotted at the team's pit wall in Abu Dhabi ahead of Lewis Hamilton’s imminent arrival

Jerome d’Ambrosio was spotted on the Ferrari pit wall ahead of Lewis Hamilton's arrival at the team. The Italian outfit signed him as their Deputy Team Principal and head of the Ferrari Driver Academy earlier this year.

As the post-season tests got underway in Abu Dhabi, Jerome d'Ambrosio took his position as a deputy to Ferrari team boss Frederic Vasseur. D'Ambrosio previously worked with Mercedes as their Driver Development Director and had also replaced Toto Wolff in Singapore during his knee surgery period.

Ferrari signed Lewis Hamilton prior to the start of the 2024 season. He had been driving with Mercedes since the 2013 season. Later in May, the team also signed Jerome d'Ambrosio.

Hamilton was recently spotted in the Ferrari garage as well, however, not participating in the post-season test. He ended his final race with Mercedes with a P4 finish after starting P16 in Abu Dhabi. It was seemingly an emotional farewell for him, the team, and the fans. Social media was laden with wishes for the seven-time World Champion as he departed from the team to join the Italian outfit.

He is set to replace Carlos Sainz, who will move to Williams Racing in 2025. He was already behind the seat of the car during the post-season testing. While most of the drivers participated in the test, Hamilton did not, and he admitted earlier that he was "missing out."

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Lewis Hamilton reveals why he did not participate in the post-season test with Ferrari

The 39-year-old could have had the chance to get behind the seat of the SF-24 in the post-season Abu Dhabi test. Hamilton also mentioned that Ferrari's team principal Frederic Vasseur wanted it to happen, however, he had other things planned on his schedule.

First of all, Lewis Hamilton revealed, he did not find it exciting to drive the car prior to the next season. Secondly, he had a scheduled meeting with his sponsors, and on top of that, he is contracted by Mercedes till the 31st of December.

"I know Fred [Vasseur] wanted it to happen," Lewis Hamilton said. "For me I was in two minds. Driving the red car for the first time in Abu Dhabi does not excite me. In the perfect world you’d get to drive it and not be seen. And do the first roll-out next year. When I did raise it with Toto they had all these plans, that I’ve got to go and see some of the sponsors and say their farewells."

"I don’t think it was ever going to be allowed even if I’d asked for it. But I’m contracted with the team until December 31, and that’s totally fine."

He further admitted that he was "missing out" on something by not participating in the test, however, it didn't bother him.

"It doesn’t bother me because I wasn’t going to do the test, I told Fred that’s not what I want to do. Am I missing out on something? For sure. It definitely delays the process and makes the start of the year harder but we’ll do our best to recover from it."

For the first time in his Formula 1 career, Lewis Hamilton will be competing in a car not powered by Mercedes in the 2025 season. He will be partnered by Charles Leclerc, who has driven for the team since the 2019 season.