Lewis Hamilton bid farewell to Mercedes with one final overtaking maneuver and a heartfelt message to the team with which he won the Formula 1 title six times. “We dream alone, but together, we believed,” the 39-year-old British driver told race engineer Peter Bonnington and team principal Toto Wolff over the radio after the end of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the last race of the 2024 season.
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"Thank you for all the courage, determination, and passion to see me and support me. What started as a leap of faith turned into a journey to the history books," continued emotional Hamilton, who cried and when he reached the finish line showed a lot of gratitude for his Mercedes W15.
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Why will Hamilton not continue with Mercedes?
Hamilton will move to Ferrari for the 2025 season after 12 years at Mercedes, the team with which he won all but one of his seven driver championships in his career (the first one he achieved with McLaren). It was the most successful partnership between a team and a driver in the history of F1, and it ended with an overtake on his teammate George Russell for fourth place on the final lap.
After crossing the finish line, Hamilton spun his car to celebrate in front of the crowd before stepping out for the last time and giving a double thumbs up to the chants of "Lewis". Then he crouched down next to the Mercedes and caressed the car.
Hamilton's move to Ferrari will see the British driver, who turns 40 next month, continue to chase an elusive eighth world title. That was something denied to him in 2021 in Abu Dhabi when Max Verstappen overtook him on the final lap after a safety car restart. It remains one of the most controversial moments in F1 history.
It's been almost 10 months and a complete season since Hamilton announced his decision in February, and the British driver admitted that his imminent departure generated tension in his relationships within the team.
Who won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix?
Lando Norris ended McLaren's 26-year wait for the Formula 1 constructor's title by winning the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday, closing the season.
There was drama from the start when champion Max Verstappen collided in the first corner with McLaren's Oscar Piastri, who was in second place, causing both cars to spin. With Piastri relegated to the back of the pack, McLaren's title hopes depended on their leader, Norris.
The British driver stayed in the lead to win, with Carlos Sainz from Ferrari in second place and Charles Leclerc climbing to third place from 19th on the grid.
This was also the last GP for Spaniard Sainz at Ferrari, as with the arrival of Hamilton, next year he will be racing at Williams.