Lewis Hamilton says he has struggled together with his feelings throughout his last season with Mercedes however finally needs to finish his 12-year profession with the group “the proper approach”.
The 39-year-old has signed a and can participate in his final race for the Silver Arrows in Abu Dhabi this weekend.
Hamilton secured six of his record-equalling seven drivers’ championships with the group however has discovered it troublesome to duplicate that very same kind since shedding out on a historic eighth title in 2021.
“It has been a really emotional 12 months for me and I do not suppose I have been one of the best at dealing with my feelings this 12 months,” mentioned Hamilton on Thursday.
“You’ve got seen one of the best of me and the worst of me, however I am not going to apologise as I am human.”
Following the Mercedes have fallen behind rivals Pink Bull, McLaren and Ferrari within the constructors’ standings.
In Qatar final week, Hamilton commented that he was after a disappointing efficiency in dash qualifying.
He did finish his winless drought with a in July, however it was 10 races in earlier than he stood on the rostrum with a third-place end in Barcelona.
The shock announcement that Hamilton could be switching to the Italian group subsequent 12 months was made earlier than the beginning of the season, with the Briton describing his first assembly afterwards with group principal Toto Wolff as “awkward”.
“In the end I anticipated it might be troublesome however massively underestimated how troublesome it might be,” he added.
“Realising these are the final moments with the group, it is laborious to explain the sensation – not the best after all.”
Nonetheless, he says there’s a lot to sit up for as he embarks on a brand new chapter with the Scuderia.
“It is a dream situation for any driver [joining Ferrari],” Hamilton mentioned. “Nevertheless it’s not a simple step to hitch a brand new group, it takes time to construct relationships and study the instruments.”
Hamilton is seventh within the drivers’ championship, 24 factors behind team-mate George Russell in sixth, and mentioned of this weekend: “Nowadays might be tremendous emotional.”