Lewis Hamilton reflects on emotional farewell season with Mercedes as he prepares for Abu Dhabi GP finale
Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool
Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has opened up about the complexities of his final season with Mercedes, as he prepares to don his racing suit for the team one last time at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix before his much-anticipated move to Ferrari in 2025.
Hamilton's storied 12-year tenure at Mercedes has been laden with success, during which he claimed six of his world titles and accumulated 84 of his grand total 105 race victories. Nevertheless, this season has proven to be uniquely trying for the British driver, filled with emotional challenges stemming from his impending departure.
"The first meeting with Toto at the beginning of the year was awkward," Hamilton admitted, underlining the initial discomfort upon addressing his future switch. "Of course it was awkward from the get-go."
The announcement of his shift in allegiances brought immediate and tangible tension, humorously highlighted by Hamilton's recollection of a team-building activity: "The day after I took the team paintballing and they had just found out ... I got a lot of shots and had loads of bruises. People went in on me that day!"
Throughout the year, Hamilton grappled with not only the sentimental aspects of his farewell but also with obstacles affecting performance on the track. He acknowledged the impact this transitional phase had on him, "I anticipated it would be difficult but massively underestimated how difficult. It was straining on the relationship very early on. Took time for people to get past it."
In an introspective moment, Hamilton confessed to not always handling the situation as gracefully as he intended. "For my own self, it's been a very emotional year for me and I think I've not been at my best in dealing with those emotions," he shared. “I think you've all seen the worst of me and the best of me and I'm not going to apologise for either because I'm only human and I'm not always going to get it right."
Expressing a desire for improvement, Hamilton hopes the positive legacy he leaves behind will eclipse any shortcomings. “I would definitely say this year has been one of the worst in terms of handling it from my side, which I'll try to be better at. I hope the good and the highs far outweigh the negatives in terms of how I've behaved."
In spite of a season laden with struggles, Hamilton's departure is layered with rich memories and deep connections formed over more than a decade. “I just remember the good times and I've built some incredible relationships," he fondly remembered, underscoring the depth of his bond with the team. "You are going through all these moments with people and it's a really beautiful journey you go on together."
As Lewis Hamilton gears up for his final race with the team, the emotions at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix are high. While an era comes to a close, Hamilton looks back with gratitude at his extraordinary journey with Mercedes and toward a new chapter with the storied Ferrari team.
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