Hamilton after his last Grand Prix with Mercedes: "It's difficult to leave"

This is a page in the history of the Formula 1 which was filmed this Sunday, December 8, 2024 in Abu Dhabi. After 246 Grands Prix, 84 victories, 153 podiums, 78 pole positions and 6 Drivers' World Championship titles, Lewis Hamilton quits Mercedes.

« I saw everyone from my team, it was an incredible journey being together for so long, confided the Briton to the microphone of Canal +. I hugged everyone, we enjoyed it. It's sad for everyone. It's hard to leave. I'm proud of my driving and what I was able to achieve today. Mercedes has been part of all my battles, everything I've accomplished since I was 13. I'll never forget what they did for me. »

Frustrated by a poor qualifying (18th) on Saturday, Lewis Hamilton was the only one to try the gamble of starting on hard tyres. A strategy that the Briton made profitable since his Mediums at the end of the race allowed him to move up to fourth place, overtaking his teammate George Russell on the last lap.

Hamilton finishes just off the podium for his last with Mercedes

« George had a great race, it was amazing for me to come back from where I was, Hamilton said. I didn't think it would end like this. The car really woke up on the last stint. The gap was big, 14 seconds. There was no Safety Car, I had to make up for it with my pace and consistency. I only had one chance at the end, I wanted to play it. I gave it my all. George was very correct. Finishing fourth and fifth is great for the team."

After this result, Sir Lewis Hamilton was allowed to go to the start-finish straight, a privilege usually reserved for the three drivers on the podium, and treated the crowd to a few doughnuts before kneeling next to his W15, his last Silver Arrow. Now it was time for a final celebration.

« We're going to have a little party with the whole team. There's a place that's reserved for us tonight. We're going to enjoy the moment together, celebrate life, friendship, camaraderie and try to remember this night. » During these fruitful years at Mercedes, Hamilton notably formed a sincere friendship with his boss Toto wolffThe two men had a long embrace in the Mercedes garage after the race. We love you and you will always be a member of this family,” the Austrian told him on the radio after the finish.

🗨️ “We dreamed alone, but we believed together”

Lewis Hamilton's last radio at Mercedes is about emotions 🥺#AbuDhabiGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/YuBSKxzg19

— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) December 8, 2024

Once the final farewells have been said, Lewis Hamilton will turn to his new adventure with Ferrari. A new book in his rich career that will only begin on January 1st. Unlike others, such as Carlos Sainz, the Briton was not allowed by his employer to drive from Tuesday during the end-of-season tests with his future team. I am a Mercedes driver until December 31st,” concludes the one who will try to write new pages of his legend in Maranello.

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