Formula 1 superstar Lewis Hamilton has admitted it was “hard to let go” of his beloved Mercedes as he bid farewell to the team at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Joining Ferrari next season, Hamilton scored a strong finish in the season finale, taking fourth place after starting from 16th.
Hamilton’s emotions ran high as he acknowledged the end of an era with Mercedes, which has been his home since 2013. He praised the team, saying it was “the greatest honour of my life” to drive for them. The seven-time world champion also expressed gratitude to his engineer and close friend Peter “Bono” Bonnington, who delivered a final message of encouragement: “It’s Hammer time.”
Hamilton’s departure from Mercedes has been long anticipated, with the driver having informed the team of his plans to join Ferrari earlier this year. Despite finishing seventh in the drivers’ standings, Hamilton demonstrated his skill and mettle with a strong drive, ultimately securing fourth place.
The 2024 season finale marked a bittersweet end to an era for Mercedes, who were pipped by McLaren in the constructors’ championship battle. However, Hamilton’s impressive performance has set him up for success at Ferrari, where he aims to revive the team’s fortunes and bring an end to their drought in driver’s championships.
Hamilton will now focus on leading the Scuderia to victory, following in the footsteps of his former mentor Michael Schumacher. With a rich history of success under his belt, Hamilton is confident that he can make a significant impact at Ferrari and help the team overcome their championship drought.
Source: https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/42854899/abu-dhabi-gp-lewis-hamilton-says-hard-let-go-mercedes