LUSAIL, Qatar — Lewis Hamilton is reflecting on his “incredible journey” and the most successful collaboration in Formula 1 history as he prepares to leave Mercedes this week and join Ferrari.
This transition signifies a fresh start for the 39-year-old, who has faced a challenging conclusion to his final season with Mercedes. It will now be Ferrari’s mission next year to help Hamilton regain his competitive edge.
“I don’t think we’re going to end on a high,” Hamilton remarked on Sunday after finishing 12th at the Qatar Grand Prix, an event marked by penalties, a punctured tire, and a request to Mercedes for permission to retire his car. Just two days prior, he acknowledged his struggles in qualifying, stating that he was “definitely not fast anymore.”
Hamilton’s last outing with Mercedes at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is set to conclude a remarkable 12-year tenure with the team. During this time, he secured six out of his seven world titles with Mercedes, the highest by any driver while racing for a single team.
As a legendary figure and the only Black driver in the sport, Hamilton’s impact extends considerably beyond the racetrack.
He made headlines earlier this year with his surprising announcement in February that he would sign with Ferrari in 2025, a decision he kept secret even from his parents. This upcoming shift has made the current season feel overshadowed.
“Throughout the year, I’ve experienced all kinds of emotions. I can’t say how I’ll feel next Sunday after the race or even during Christmas time,” Hamilton commented last week.
He expressed that he will miss the “family” atmosphere at Mercedes, fondly recalling memories with late former F1 champion Niki Lauda, who was instrumental in bringing him to the team before he passed away in 2019.
“There are so many beautiful moments, including those I shared with Niki—amazing discussions, debates,” Hamilton reflected. “It’s been a wonderful journey together, one that I truly cherished.”
When Hamilton switched teams previously, he found it difficult to detach from his former employer. He reminisced about an incident in 2013 at the Malaysian Grand Prix when he mistakenly drove into McLaren’s pit during his second race with Mercedes.
“I recall that it felt strange passing my old team’s pit lane after joining this team—so much so that I accidentally stopped at theirs once,” he recounted.
After an emotional victory at his home British Grand Prix in July that ended a lengthy 945-day win drought, Hamilton claimed another victory at the Belgian Grand Prix when teammate George Russell finished first but was ultimately disqualified. Since then, however, Hamilton has consistently finished behind Russell in 10 out of 12 races, including sprint events.
Qualifying has been Hamilton’s main hurdle this season, forcing him to fight for positions during race days. “When you’re frequently starting from the back, it makes it almost impossible to contend for wins,” he stated last week.
Among his missed opportunities is a chance to drive a Ferrari during a testing session following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Although he acknowledged that his contract with Mercedes prevents him from doing so, he noted that he wouldn’t want to embark on his Ferrari tenure in such a way.
It is anticipated that Hamilton will get the chance to test a Ferrari behind closed doors at the renowned Fiorano track early next year.
“I know (Ferrari team principal) Fred (Vasseur) hoped for this to happen. For me, it’s a bit of a dilemma. Driving the red car for the first time in Abu Dhabi doesn’t fill me with excitement. Ideally, I’d have the chance to drive it privately before making my public debut next year,” he shared. “Am I missing something? Absolutely.”