Lewis Hamilton Opens Up on Farewell to Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton has shared the emotional challenges he has faced during his final season with Mercedes, expressing his desire to finish his 12-year stint with the team “the right way.” The 39-year-old, who secured six of his seven record-equalling world championships with Mercedes, signed a multi-year deal with Ferrari marking the end of an era. He will race for Mercedes one final time in Abu Dhabi this weekend.

Reflecting on the emotional year, Hamilton admitted he has struggled with managing his emotions. He said, “It’s been a very emotional year for me, and I don’t think I’ve been the best at handling my emotions.” Despite the struggles, he emphasized that he is human and did not apologize for the moments of vulnerability. Since narrowly losing out on an eighth title in 2021, Mercedes has fallen behind Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari in the constructors’ standings.

Hamilton has had an inconsistent season with a winless streak broken only by his victory at Silverstone in July and a third-place finish in Barcelona after a long wait. Hamilton announced his switch to Ferrari before the season began and described his first meeting with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff as “awkward.” He admitted that he had underestimated the emotional difficulty of leaving after so many years.

Still, he looks forward to his new chapter with Ferrari, calling it “a dream scenario for any driver.” He recognizes the challenges of building new relationships and adapting to a new team. With only one race remaining for Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton currently sits seventh in the drivers’ standings, 24 points behind teammate George Russell. The upcoming race weekend will likely be an emotional one for the seven-time world champion.