Introduction:

For Lewis Hamilton, his stint with Mercedes ended “in a spectacular way” following what he called a “very turbulent year.” After starting the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from 16th on the grid, the seven-time champion finished fourth, capping up his 12-year career with Mercedes.

Lewis Hamilton Reflects on His Emotional Farewell to Mercedes Ahead of Ferrari Move

“From the very start, I was aware that I’d be leaving, making this feel like the longest year of my life,”Lewis Hamilton shared.. It’s comparable to telling your lover you’re quitting a relationship but still living together for a year. We closed the day on a positive note, despite the many ups and downs.
In 2025, the 39-year-old Lewis Hamilton is expected to join Ferrari after leaving Mercedes. His twelve years with Mercedes are among the most enduring and fruitful collaborations between a driver and a team in Formula One history. After his last race with Mercedes in Abu Dhabi, he was seen kneeling in front of his vehicle in a moving photo.

Lewis Hamilton celebrated with doughnuts on the pit straight after passing colleague George Russell on the last lap to take fourth position. Then he sat next to his car and thought about it. “Every moment, I knew it was the last, and that awareness made letting go incredibly difficult,” he stated. “My only desire was to savor the moment as I came to a stop.” The greatest honor of my life has been representing Mercedes. I’m incredibly grateful to the team that built such a strong car and to everyone who supported me. I’m proud of everyone who took part.

Lewis Hamilton won two races in 2024, his first since 2021, when he narrowly lost the season’s last race to earn his record-breaking eighth drivers’ title. He did, however, have some difficult weekends, like as finishing in 12th place in Qatar one week prior to Abu Dhabi.

Lewis Hamilton reflects on his bond with Mercedes and the impact on Teammates as he prepares for Ferrari move

Lewis Hamilton said, “We’ve definitely had ups and downs, but there’s been genuine love throughout,” as he reflected on his time with Mercedes. Despite their early misgivings, the board members who have supported me throughout the years have now become like family. That says a lot about our relationship.

George Russell, a fellow Briton, has been Lewis Hamilton’s driver for the past three years with Mercedes, outscoring him by 22 points in the drivers’ championship. “It feels appropriate to close out this chapter with Lewis and finish just a second apart,” said Russell, 26. He deserved it, therefore I’m happy his weekend ended well. I’m happy of the time we’ve spent together and have learnt a lot from him as a person and a driver.”

Lewis Hamilton was cited as a role model by Russell, who will be paired with 18-year-old Italian rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli in 2025.”I’ve gained insight from Lewis about the importance of using our platform wisely.” When my little nieces and nephews began using TikTok and Netflix, it became much more evident to me. Younger generations are inspired by the way we respond to victories and defeats. Millions of people are watching, so how you communicate is important, which is one of the most important life lessons I’ve taken from him.

As he looked back on the 12-year collaboration, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said, “This journey created a deep bond and trust, values that are rare today.” This chapter will therefore always have a particular place in our hearts. Lewis Hamilton called working for Mercedes “the greatest honor of my life.” following a difficult year, he acknowledged that it was good to finish on a high note following his final race with the team.

In the meantime, McLaren’s first Constructors’ Championship since 1998 was celebrated by race winner Lando Norris and his teammate Oscar Piastri. Another example of Lewis Hamilton’s extraordinary talent and his unrivaled relationship with Mercedes, which started in 2013, was his ascent from 16th to fourth place in Abu Dhabi. Hamilton won 84 games and six championships in 12 seasons. He parked among the top three on the start-finish straight and knelt next to his car to take stock of the voyage before joining Ferrari the following year.

Since it’s the final time I’ll get into a Mercedes and represent them, I just wanted to enjoy the moment when I pulled over. “This has been the most rewarding and humbling experience of my entire life,” he expressed.
“I mean, it was incredibly difficult to let go because I knew every second I spent in the car this week was my last. Every race, every win, every championship, and every pole position makes me proud.

I was only expressing my gratitude to my passion, which kept me going, and to all the people who drove and built that automobile when I knelt next to it. “Lewis Hamilton expressed his pride, saying, ‘I couldn’t be prouder of each and every one of them.’

At the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton celebrated by spinning on the track to honor his final race with Mercedes. The seven-time world champion’s tenure came to an end with this symbolic moment, which was photographed by Clive Mason/Getty Images.Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes have struggled since he lost the opportunity to win his eighth championship in the contentious 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix final. The team was unable to continuously create a fast, well-balanced car as a result of their inability to adjust to the 2022 regulatory revisions. Hamilton and the squad had to deal with the emotional reality of his impending departure, which was disclosed before to the start of the season, despite this year’s gains.

Lewis Hamilton reflected on the year, saying, “We knew from the beginning that we were going to part ways, so it’s been a pretty stressful year, maybe the longest of my life. It’s similar to telling your partner you’re leaving a relationship but continuing to be together for a whole year. Although there were many emotional highs and lows, we had a magnificent conclusion today.

Lando Norris led McLaren to its first Constructors’ Championship in 26 years with a decisive victory at the Yas Marina Circuit at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Norris outperformed both Ferraris with a faultless performance from pole to flag. Norris proudly celebrated the remarkable accomplishment despite an early setback as colleague Oscar Piastri was eliminated by Max Verstappen.”‘This day held a special significance for every one of us,’ Norris remarked.” Being a part of McLaren’s first championship victory in 26 years feels unreal. Oscar and I are really proud of this moment, and it’s all worth it when we see how happy everyone is.”

It was an emotional send-off for Lewis Hamilton, who spent 12 years with Mercedes, a team that helped him win six of his seven world titles. His sincere words to his group demonstrated the strength of their relationship: “We dreamed alone, but together we believed.” I appreciate your bravery, tenacity, and enthusiasm. What started off as a leap of faith became an adventure that will go down in history.

On the penultimate lap, Hamilton passed teammate George Russell to take fourth place, capping off a memorable farewell race with Mercedes. One of Formula One’s most fruitful team-driver collaborations was captured in the moment. Hamilton gave a final thumbs-up, waved to spectators yelling his name, and celebrated with donuts on the track after the race. Then, in a quiet moment of introspection, he sat next to his car and patted it.

In an attempt to win his elusive eighth world championship, the 39-year-old British driver, who will soon be 40, will now join Ferrari. Although Hamilton’s time with Mercedes is over, his spirit of competition endures as he attempts to change the course of history.

With his departure, Hamilton and Mercedes begin a new chapter in their lives. Hamilton’s legacy at Mercedes will live on forever, while the team bids farewell to a superstar who defined an era and moves on to new challenges.
After a challenging qualifying session, during which team principal Toto Wolff expressed regret, Hamilton started his 246th and final race with Mercedes from 16th on the grid. Hamilton moved up to 12th place in the first few circuits, but it was difficult to move forward. He said over the radio, “I have no pace, mate.” Hamilton’s recent run of bad luck looked certain to continue, perhaps overshadowing his final race.

Nevertheless, things began to slowly go his way. It proved to be a brilliant strategic move to start on harder, more resilient tires and move to faster medium compounds for the last stint. Hamilton rose steadily through the field as other drivers were forced to pit.

Mercedes had the audacity to aim for a podium finish at one point, but Hamilton was pursuing teammate George Russell in the final circuits. Over the team radio, Wolff praised him despite his failure to place on the podium, stating, “That was a world champion’s drive.”

Even though Hamilton’s final race wasn’t flawless, his performance perfectly captured the tenacity and will that characterized his remarkable tenure with Mercedes.

Conclusion:

Lewis Hamilton’s 12-year stint with Mercedes will go down in Formula One history as he starts a new chapter with Ferrari in 2025. For him and the team, his tearful farewell at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which was filled with moments of celebration and introspection, signified the end of an era. Through victories and setbacks, Hamilton and Mercedes developed a relationship that will go down as one of the sport’s most enduring alliances. Even though he is departing the team, his legacy will endure because of his tenacity, leadership, and unwavering spirit. The memories of Hamilton’s tenure with Mercedes will live on in Formula One history as he goes forward.