Emotional Farewell: Lewis Hamilton’s Last Race with Mercedes
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Under the sweltering sun at the Yas Marina Circuit, atop the sleek Mercedes hospitality unit, Lewis Hamilton found himself in a familiar position. He sat across from his race engineer, Peter Bonnington, engaging in their traditional pre-race weekend planning. It was a routine they had executed countless times before — precisely 245 times — but the 246th occasion bore an emotional weight unlike any other. This was Hamilton’s final race weekend as a Mercedes driver, marking the end of a remarkable chapter filled with 12 years, 84 race victories, and six world championships, cementing their legacy as the most successful driver-team partnership in Formula 1 history.
The conversations between Hamilton and Bonnington, affectionately known as ‘Bono’ and someone Hamilton has often referred to as a brother, remained grounded in professionalism. They understood the task ahead of them. However, later in the day, the seven-time world champion acknowledged that these discussions were tinged with an additional layer of emotion. “You’re sitting there, and you’re realizing these are the last moments with the team, which is … it’s hard to describe the feeling,” Hamilton reflected. “It’s not the greatest, of course, but I think mostly I’m just really proud of what we’ve achieved.”
The ‘last dance’ for Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes had been brewing for nearly ten months. On February 1, Hamilton made the decision to announce his move to Ferrari for the 2025 season, allowing the 39-year-old a final chance to drive in F1’s iconic red cars, a fitting way to conclude his illustrious career. Abu Dhabi was always destined to be a grand prix of significance.
As the season unfolded, filled with highs such as his triumphant return to victory at Silverstone and Spa, contrasted with the late-season struggles, both Hamilton and Mercedes were determined to finish on a celebratory note. “It’s a really beautiful journey you go on together,” Hamilton commented. “And being that it was so long, the emotions run so deep.”
Toto Wolff, the Mercedes team principal, sensed the impending change when Hamilton arrived at his home in Oxfordshire for their pre-season meeting. Fred Vasseur, Ferrari’s F1 chief and a close ally of Wolff’s, had not responded to a text asking if he was planning to “take our driver,” and Carlos Sainz’s father had hinted to Wolff that something was brewing.
Reflecting on their conversation that Thursday, Hamilton described the moment of telling Wolff about his departure as “awkward.” Just eight months prior, they had renewed their contract, seemingly solidifying their partnership, one that Hamilton had envisioned extending well beyond his time in F1. The duo’s collaborative efforts toward promoting diversity and equality in F1 hold a legacy that resonates deeply with Hamilton, even more so than his racing accolades.
This year proved to be emotionally taxing for Hamilton, something he admitted he had “massively underestimated.” “It was straining on the relationship very early on; (it) took time for people to get past it,” he revealed. “And then just for my own self, it’s been a very emotional year for me. And I think I’ve not been at my best in handling and dealing with those emotions.”
Hamilton has always been open about his feelings, as evidenced by the tears he shed after breaking a two-and-a-half-year win drought at Silverstone. His close relationship with Mercedes fosters a level of candor that has endured through significant disappointments, including his 2016 title loss to teammate Nico Rosberg and the controversial events of Abu Dhabi three years ago when he narrowly missed out on a record eighth world title.
Wolff has often sought to address any lingering wounds, understanding that it is often the only way to improve a situation. He felt that Hamilton and Mercedes had navigated the emotional complexities of this year adeptly. “When he took the decision at the beginning of the season to go, we knew it could be a bumpy year ahead,” Wolff stated in Qatar. “He knows he’s going to go somewhere else. We know our future lies with Kimi (Antonelli). To go through the ups and downs and still keep it together between us, that is something we have achieved.”
Hamilton’s candidness was highlighted during a challenging Friday practice session at the Qatar Grand Prix when he admitted, “I’m just slow.” For a seven-time world champion to express such a sentiment might seem unfathomable, yet there was a sense of resignation as he processed a tough day. The Mercedes W15 car had struggled to align with his driving style, preventing him from extracting optimal performance, particularly in qualifying, where he trailed teammate George Russell significantly.
In the aftermath of the Qatar qualifying session, where Hamilton secured sixth while Russell nabbed P2, he was prompted to elaborate on his previous comment. Was it a sign of declining performance as he approached his forties? “I know I’ve still got it,” Hamilton asserted. “(It’s) just the car won’t go a bit faster. I definitely know I’ve got it still. It’s not a question in my mind. (I’m) looking forward to the end.”
This was not the first time Hamilton had expressed such a bleak outlook. After a disappointing race in Brazil, where he finished 10th in challenging conditions while Russell contended for victory, Hamilton remarked that he could “happily go and take a holiday” rather than participate in the final triple-header. In Las Vegas, despite the W15 finally performing well, Hamilton’s qualifying struggles left him feeling downcast.
Wolff acknowledged the tough season for the team, stating, “These last races, maybe even the whole season, was clearly not what we expected. That car is a handful to drive on its worst days.” But how much of this struggle has impacted Hamilton differently than Russell? Wolff attributed part of it to Hamilton’s driving style, noting, “One of his strengths is how he’s always able to brake late and attack the corner, and the car can’t take it.”
Vasseur, welcoming Hamilton to Ferrari, expressed confidence in his new star’s abilities, stating, “Have a look on the 50 laps that he did in Vegas, starting P10 (and) finishing on the gearbox of Russell. I’m not worried at all.” The progress made by Ferrari this season, recovering from a mid-season slump to challenge McLaren for the constructors’ title, gives Hamilton hope that he can reclaim his former glory.
As Hamilton gears up for his final weekend with Mercedes, he acknowledged the natural excitement surrounding his next chapter. “It really sparks motivation,” he said. “And it’s a dream scenario for any driver to have an opportunity like this. I don’t take that for granted.”
Whenever Hamilton eventually decides to retire from racing, his tenure with Mercedes will undoubtedly stand out as the most defining period of his illustrious career. When he made the bold choice in 2012 to leave McLaren, a team that had been synonymous with his rise in F1, many questioned his judgment. However, it turned out to be a pivotal decision that would shape his future.
As Mercedes began a record-breaking dynasty, Hamilton evolved from a talented 27-year-old champion into a seasoned veteran poised to turn 40, with seven world titles and a profile that extends well beyond the paddock. At the entrance of Mercedes’ garage at the Yas Marina Circuit, two large photographs of Hamilton mark his journey: one from Hungary 2013, capturing his first win with Mercedes, and another from Silverstone this year, showcasing one of his most emotional victories.
The caption reads: “Every dream needs a team.” Even amidst the challenges of this year and the emotional farewells, the remarkable achievements of Hamilton and Mercedes cannot be overshadowed. “Nothing is going to take away 12 incredible years with eight constructors’ and six drivers’ championships,” Wolff emphasized. “That is what will be the memory, and after next Sunday, we’re going to look back on this great period of time rather than a season or races that were particularly bad. We will stay with the good memories.”
As Hamilton prepares for the checkered flag to drop for the last time in a Mercedes F1 car, the weight of shared memories and experiences will surely wash over him, cementing his legacy in the history of the sport.
Top photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images, Clive Rose/Getty Images; Design: Meech Robinson/The Athletic
