Abu Dhabi GP: Lewis Hamilton closes Mercedes chapter with impressive P4 comeback

Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool

In an emotional farewell to his Mercedes tenure, Lewis Hamilton delivered a final touch of class at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, surging from 16th to a stellar fourth-place finish, even eclipsing teammate George Russell on the very last lap. The Abu Dhabi race marks the end of the most formidable pairing in Formula One history.

Over a dozen years with Mercedes, Hamilton's outstanding haul included 84 race wins and six of his seven world titles, eclipsing the trophy-filled era of Michael Schumacher at Ferrari.

As Hamilton sets his eyes on Maranello, he carries the ambition of reviving Ferrari's championship fortunes – a legacy untouched since Kimi Raikkonen's 2007 triumph and challenging Schumacher's record of seven world titles.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff couldn't hide his admiration, hailing Hamilton over the team radio, "That was the drive of a world champion." Emotions ran high as Hamilton, too, shared heartfelt words with race engineer Peter Bonnington, "We dreamed alone but together we believed. What started out as a leap of faith turned into a journey into the history books."

The British champion's maiden run in Ferrari red is slated for 2025, with his final Mercedes obligations drawing him to an upcoming Petronas event in Kuala Lumpur and visits to Mercedes' sites in Stuttgart, Brixworth, and Brackley for what promises to be a succession of tributes to a venerable racing collaboration.

While an early release for the Ferrari post-season test was speculated, Hamilton remains tied to the Silver Arrows until year's end. Mercedes has announced Italy’s rising star Andrea Kimi Antonelli as Hamilton's successor, setting the stage for a new chapter with Russell as his teammate.

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