Probably the most profitable driver-team pairing in System 1 historical past will come to an finish this weekend as Lewis Hamilton drives his final race for Mercedes on the 2024 season finale in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Over 12 seasons with the crew, the 39-year-old British racer has captured six championships, 84 race wins and 78 pole positions, and 153 podium finishes.
Hamilton is and can drive alongside Charles Leclerc, who has raced for the Italian crew since 2019. He stated forward of the race that he is nonetheless processing all of it.
“Fairly calm for the time being. Feeling constructive and excited simply to offer all of it this weekend,” Hamilton instructed reporters on Thursday. “Already from just like the briefings that we’ve had, like, you’re sitting there and also you’re realizing these are the final moments with the crew, which is … it’s arduous to explain the sensation. It’s not the best, in fact, however I feel largely I’m simply actually happy with what we’ve achieved. And I’ve a lot pleasure on this crew.”
Hamilton reminisced about probably the most memorable moments of his extraordinary profession with Mercedes.
“I feel it’s the grins — after we’ve had the success,” he stated. “It’s the feelings that we had in Silverstone this yr. It’s all the great bits. Naturally, you largely bear in mind the great bits.”
There have additionally been low factors that Hamilton will need to neglect.
The 2021 season resulted in bitterness after Hamilton misplaced the title-deciding race to Max Verstappen on the final lap after a controversial officiating choice. Then, 2022 and 2023 marked the one winless seasons of Hamilton’s F1 profession.
This season, regardless of profitable two races, he has typically been outpaced by youthful teammate George Russell, inflicting him to ponder aloud whether or not he’s misplaced his contact. After some middling outcomes, Hamilton vented that he’s “gradual” throughout with F1 final weekend in Qatar. “I’m positively not quick anymore,” he stated.
Aside from a sensational victory at his U.Ok. house Grand Prix in July, it’s been a season to neglect for Hamilton. He enters the final race in seventh place within the driver’s standings, 24 factors behind Russell. He stated Thursday that he “anticipated it might be tough” to have an extended goodbye with Mercedes, “however massively underestimated how tough it might be” given the pressure on relationships.
“It’s been a really emotional yr for me. And I feel I’ve not been at my greatest in dealing with and coping with these feelings,” Hamilton stated. “And I feel this yr, and so lots of you could have been right here my complete profession, so a few of you, I feel, you’ve all seen the worst of me and seen the perfect of me and I’m not going to apologize for both as a result of I’m solely human and I don’t at all times get it proper.”
Mercedes crew boss and CEO Toto Wolff referred to as the race “a celebration” of the Hamilton-Mercedes achievements after a partnership of “many highs and “some crushing lows.”
“After 12 unimaginable years, we prepare to put in writing the ultimate chapter in our racing story with Lewis this weekend. It has been fairly a journey,” Wolff stated in an announcement. “It’s a legacy that transcends our sport, with an enduring affect past the racetrack. One which has strived to extend range in our sport. To struggle for inclusion. Lewis has been the catalyst for a lot of this, and we have now been honored and proud to work hand-in-hand with him.”
Together with his successes with McLaren earlier in his profession, Hamilton holds the F1 report for general race wins (105), pole positions (104) and 7 championships that equal Michael Schumacher, who gained 5 of his titles with Ferrari.
“I’m not taking a look at evaluating myself to Michael,” Hamilton stated. “I’m making an attempt to consider ensuring that end off the suitable method and the easiest way potential with Mercedes. These subsequent days are going to be tremendous emotional. It’s all an enormous unknown for what’s up forward. Clearly, large pleasure.”
Amid the tough season, Hamilton has discovered some pleasure off the race observe, taking one small step nearer to fulfilling his childhood dream of going to outer house. He attended astronaut flight coaching in Austin, Texas, final week in response to captured by his administration crew and Mercedes sponsor IWC Schaffhausen.
How did the sensation evaluate to racing?
“It’s very totally different to F1. The blood by no means leaves your head,” Hamilton stated. “Once you’re turning the aircraft, you are feeling the blood leaving your physique, your chest will get heavy and it’s arduous to breathe.”
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