Hamilton ‘finished on a high’ with Mercedes

Tuesday, 10 December 2024 02:30 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton said he was happy his time with Mercedes “finished on a high” after what he described as “a really turbulent year.”

The seven-time champion brought to an end his 12 years with Mercedes with a fourth-place finish after starting 16th on the grid in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

“It has been probably the longest year of my life, knowing from the beginning I was leaving,” Hamilton said.

“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, 39, leaves Mercedes for Ferrari in 2025 after 12 years with Mercedes that was both the longest and most successful team-driver combination in F1 history.

He passed teammate George Russell on the final lap to clinch fourth place and then celebrated by doing doughnuts on the pit straight, before climbing out of his car, crouching beside it, and spending some moments with his thoughts.

“Each moment I have known it was one of the last and it has been really clear and really hard to let go,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton has won two races in 2024 – his first victories since the 2021 campaign in which he controversially lost out on a record eighth drivers’ title at the final race of the season.

But he has also had difficult weekends, including in Qatar a week before Abu Dhabi, when he finished 12th.