Lewis Hamilton’s Emotional Farewell to Mercedes: A Legacy of Triumphs, Challenges, and New Beginnings
This weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix isn’t just the final race of the 2024 Formula 1 season—it’s the end of an era. After 12 years, 246 races, 84 victories (potentially 85 if he can pull off one last miracle), and six drivers’ championships, Lewis Hamilton will bid farewell to Mercedes. The longest and most successful driver-team partnership in F1 history is coming to a close, as Hamilton prepares to don Ferrari red in 2025. It’s a seismic shift in the sport, and fans around the world are bracing for the emotional goodbye.
But as with many great stories, this one isn’t ending without its share of drama. Hamilton’s decision to leave Mercedes, announced last winter, caught the team off guard and set the stage for a bittersweet farewell season. The struggles with Mercedes’ latest generation of F1 cars have only added to the tension, with Hamilton openly expressing his frustrations. Just three races ago in Brazil, he admitted he was ready for the season to end, longing for some much-needed family time over the holidays. And in Qatar, he even considered parking his car after being penalized for exceeding the pit lane speed limit.
Still, it hasn’t been all doom and gloom. Hamilton delivered a vintage performance at Silverstone in July, claiming an emotional British Grand Prix victory—his first win since the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi finale. He followed it up with a win in Belgium, though that triumph came after teammate George Russell was disqualified for his car being underweight. These moments reminded fans of the brilliance that has defined Hamilton’s career, even as his swan song with Mercedes has been far from perfect.
The Long Goodbye
After Sunday’s checkered flag in Abu Dhabi, Hamilton will still have 24 days left on his Mercedes contract. The team plans to use that time to give him a proper send-off, celebrating a partnership that has rewritten the F1 record books. Once the goodbyes are said, both parties will embark on new chapters: Hamilton with Ferrari, and Mercedes with 18-year-old rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli stepping into the seven-time champion’s seat.
“Fairytale endings are rare in Formula 1,” Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff admitted last weekend in Qatar. “But nothing is going to take away 12 incredible years with eight constructors’ and six drivers’ championships. That is what will be in the memory.”
Wolff’s words reflect the complicated emotions surrounding Hamilton’s departure. The decision to leave wasn’t easy for Hamilton, who has been with Mercedes for 26 years, dating back to his karting days. “We’ve created history within the sport,” Hamilton said earlier this year. “But ultimately, I’m writing my story, and I felt like this would be the time to start a new chapter.”
Why Ferrari?
Hamilton’s move to Ferrari has sparked endless speculation. Why leave a team where he’s achieved so much? For Hamilton, the allure of Ferrari was simply too strong to resist. “As a kid, I used to play as Michael [Schumacher] in that car,” he said. “It’s definitely a dream, and I am really, really excited about it.”
Ferrari hasn’t won a drivers’ championship since Kimi Räikkönen’s triumph in 2007, and Hamilton sees the challenge of returning the Scuderia to glory as an opportunity to cement his legacy. “It’s a team that has not had huge success since Michael’s days,” he said. “I saw it as a huge challenge.”
Hamilton’s Mercedes Legacy
While the focus is on the future, it’s impossible to ignore the legacy Hamilton leaves behind at Mercedes. His career statistics are staggering: 105 wins (84 with Mercedes), 104 pole positions (78 with Mercedes), and six drivers’ championships. He is, by the numbers, the most successful driver in F1 history.
When Hamilton joined Mercedes in 2013, he had one title and 21 wins to his name. Over the next seven years, he dominated the sport, winning six championships and 53.28% of the races between 2014 and 2020. Critics often point to Mercedes’ dominant cars as the key to his success, but those who worked with him know it was his relentless drive and ability to reinvent himself that set him apart.
- Reinvention: “He reinvented himself every year,” said James Vowles, Mercedes’ former head of strategy. “He always wanted more every step of the way.”
- Clutch Performances: Vowles pointed to Hamilton’s 2018 Singapore qualifying lap as an example of his brilliance. “There was nothing left on the table,” he said.
- Pressure Performer: “When the pressure is on, you get the best Lewis, not the worst Lewis,” Vowles added.
More Than a Driver
Hamilton’s impact extends far beyond the racetrack. During his time at Mercedes, he became a vocal advocate for social justice, environmental issues, and diversity in motorsport. In 2021, he pledged £20 million of his own money to create Mission 44, a charity focused on supporting underrepresented groups in engineering. He also worked with Mercedes to launch Ignite, an initiative aimed at increasing diversity in F1.
“I think the thing I am most proud of is the work we have done with diversity and inclusion,” Hamilton said. “We have a very diverse team now, which is something I am grateful to be a part of.”
One Last Race
As Hamilton prepares for his final race with Mercedes, emotions are running high. “It will be emotional,” Wolff admitted. “Particularly on Sunday in the last laps of the last race.”
Hamilton, however, is at peace. “These last races aren’t going to define anything for the future,” he said. “We’ve already done everything and more than we ever set out to do.”
While the sight of Hamilton in Ferrari red next season will take some getting used to, one thing is certain: his bond with Mercedes will endure. “Lewis’ legacy will be Mercedes’ legacy and the other way around,” Wolff said. “I will cherish all of those moments we had.”
For Hamilton, the feeling is mutual. “I’ll always be a part of Mercedes’ history,” he said. “The bridge is solidified, and it will last the test of time.”
Originally Written by: Laurence Edmondson
