Lewis Hamilton Discusses Emotional Struggles In Final Season With Mercedes Ahead Of Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

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Lewis Hamilton has reflected on his final year with Mercedes, admitting he underestimated the challenges following his announcement to join Ferrari in 2025. As he prepares for his last race with the team at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Hamilton looks back on a remarkable 12-year career with Mercedes. During this time, he secured six of his seven drivers' championships and set numerous Formula One records.

The 2024 season has been particularly tough for Hamilton, who is on track for his lowest points tally in F1 despite two victories. He won the British Grand Prix in July and triumphed again at the Belgian Grand Prix shortly after. Reflecting on the past year, Hamilton shared, "The first meeting with Toto [Wolff] at the beginning of the year was awkward, of course, so it was awkward from the get-go."

Hamilton described how difficult it was to navigate relationships within the team after announcing his move to Ferrari. "I anticipated it would be difficult but massively underestimated how difficult it would be," he said. The emotional toll of this transition has been significant for him, affecting his performance and interactions throughout the season.

Hamilton's struggles were compounded by teammate George Russell's impressive performances. Russell has outqualified Hamilton in 38 sessions and finished ahead in half of their races together. Despite these challenges, Hamilton values the strong relationships built over years with Mercedes.

"I hope the good and the highs far outweigh the negatives in how I've handled it," Hamilton stated. He cherishes the bonds formed during shared experiences both on and off track, including personal milestones like marriages and losses.

Drivers to Watch: Verstappen and Leclerc

Max Verstappen aims to end his season strongly at Abu Dhabi, where he's won four consecutive races. A fifth win would match records set by legends like Ayrton Senna and Lewis Hamilton. Verstappen also seeks a tenth victory this year, marking another milestone in his career.

Charles Leclerc hopes to improve upon last year's seventh-place finish at Abu Dhabi as Ferrari competes against McLaren for top honours in constructors' standings. With twelve podium finishes this season, Leclerc has surpassed his previous best from 2022.

Current Championship Standings

The upcoming race marks a significant moment for Hamilton as he bids farewell to Mercedes after an illustrious tenure. His journey with them is filled with achievements that will be remembered long after he moves on to new challenges with Ferrari.