Lewis Hamilton Reflects on High-Note Departure from Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton expressed satisfaction that his tenure with the Mercedes team, which began in the 2013 season, concluded “on a high,” despite what he characterized as “a really turbulent year.” The seven-time champion concluded his 12-year association with Mercedes by securing a fourth-place finish in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, having started from 16th position on the grid. Hamilton stated, “It has been probably the longest year of my life, knowing from the beginning I was leaving.” He further elaborated, “It’s like a relationship that you’ve told whoever the counterpart is you’re leaving but you’re living together for a year. Lots of ups and downs but we finished on a high today.” Hamilton, aged 39, is set to depart Mercedes for Ferrari in 2025, marking the end of a 12-year period with Mercedes that stands as the longest and most successful team-driver partnership in Formula 1 history. After exiting a Mercedes vehicle for the last time, Lewis Hamilton passed his team-mate George Russell on the final lap to secure fourth place. He then celebrated by performing doughnuts on the pit straight, subsequently dismounting his car, kneeling beside it, and taking a few moments for reflection. Hamilton commented, “Each moment I have known it was one of the last and it has been really clear and really hard to let go.” He added, “When I stopped the car. I wanted to embrace the moment. Representing Mercedes has been the greatest moment of my life. Just giving thanks, my own spirit for not giving up, everyone the power to have built that car. I am proud of everyone.” In 2024, Hamilton secured two race victories, marking his first wins since the 2021 campaign, where he controversially missed out on a record eighth drivers’ title during the season’s concluding race. However, he also experienced challenging weekends, such as in Qatar a week prior to Abu Dhabi, where he finished 12th. He further stated: “We’ve definitely had ups and downs but what’s come through is there has been real love.” Hamilton concluded, “The board members who have stood by and supported me all these years, who were upset at the beginning, but today were saying you will always be part of the family. It just shows there is a lot of love between us.” During his last three years with Mercedes, Hamilton’s team-mate was fellow Briton George Russell, who finished 22 points ahead of him in the drivers’ championship standings. Russell, 26, commented, “I felt like it was quite a fitting way to finish with Lewis, to be one second apart after these years, I am happy he had a great weekend. He deserved it.” He added, “I have learned so much from Lewis as a driver and a person. I am proud to have had these years.” Russell, who will be joined by 18-year-old Italian rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli in 2025, stated that Hamilton had imparted significant lessons on how to conduct oneself as a role model. Russell explained, “I recognise from Lewis that we all have this platform and we have to use it correctly. It has become even more apparent to me with my young nieces and nephews watching TikTok and Netflix. “How you deal with the victories and losses you inspire the young kids. “The biggest life lesson I have learned from him is that, even if you really want to express something, there are hundreds of millions of people watching, and the way you do it is super-important.” Reflecting on their 12-year collaboration, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff remarked, “It creates attachment, trust and those values in this day and age are rare and that’s why it is a period of time we will always hold close to our hearts.” In Abu Dhabi on Saturday, George Russell had his Lewis Hamilton book signed, with the spelling corrected this time, referencing a widely shared image of a young Russell patiently waiting for Hamilton to autograph his book collection. Lewis Hamilton and his race engineer, Pete ‘Bono’ Bonnington, collaborated throughout his 12 years at Mercedes, with Bonnington frequently using the phrase “Hammer time” to instruct his driver to push harder. Hamilton concluded his tenure with Mercedes in a memorable fashion. Hamilton finished the 2024 season in seventh place in the drivers’ championship. The cumulative points total from their three years as team-mates shows Hamilton with 697 points and Russell with 695 points. During his time with Mercedes, Hamilton achieved 84 victories, six drivers’ championships, and a total of 153 podium finishes.