December 5th 2024.
As Lewis Hamilton poses for a team photo ahead of his final race for Mercedes, it marks the end of an era. After 12 seasons, 245 grands prix starts, 84 victories, 78 pole positions, and six world drivers’ titles, Hamilton will be bidding farewell to the team he has been a part of since 2013. It's going to be an emotional goodbye for both Hamilton and Mercedes, as they have shared countless memories and successes together over the years.
At 39 years old, Hamilton admits he is feeling "pretty calm" right now. However, his decision to join Ferrari in 2025 has been a difficult one, and there have been moments of tension as he and the team have come to terms with their upcoming separation. Hamilton recalls the awkwardness of his first meeting with team principal Toto Wolff at the beginning of the year, knowing that he would be leaving the team. In an attempt to ease the tension, Hamilton took the team paintballing but ended up with bruises from being shot by his own teammates. He knew it would be a challenging transition, but he didn't anticipate just how difficult it would be for everyone involved.
The emotional toll of his departure has also taken a toll on Hamilton himself, as he admits he has not been at his best this season. He acknowledges that he has had both good and bad moments, but he refuses to apologize for being human and experiencing a range of emotions. Hamilton hopes that the positive memories and relationships he has built during his time at Mercedes will outweigh any negatives.
This season has also been a challenging one for Hamilton on the track. He is currently 24 points behind his teammate George Russell and has struggled to match his pace in qualifying. The Mercedes W15 has also proven to be slow and difficult to handle at times. However, there have been moments of brilliance, such as their one-two victory in Las Vegas, which Hamilton considers a highlight of the season. As he prepares for his final race with Mercedes, Hamilton knows that the competition will be tight, with McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull all vying for the win. But he is determined to give it his all and end his time with the team on a high note.
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will also determine which constructor wins the world championship. McLaren currently holds a 21-point lead over Ferrari, who is looking to secure their first title since 2008. It will be a challenging task for Ferrari, as McLaren has a car that is well-suited to the Yas Marina circuit. Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz Jr, who is making way for Hamilton at Ferrari in 2025, may have to wait a while before having a race-winning car again as he moves to Williams.
As the season comes to a close, there are also other drivers on the grid who may be bidding farewell to the sport. Valtteri Bottas, Zhou Guanyu, Kevin Magnussen, and Sergio Perez are all potentially saying goodbye to their current teams. Red Bull has hinted that they may replace Perez with Liam Lawson for the upcoming season.
The tension between drivers on the track is not uncommon in Formula 1, and this season has been no exception. George Russell's accusation of bullying by Max Verstappen has caused quite a stir, with Russell claiming that Verstappen threatened to put him in the wall during qualifying in Qatar. The stewards ultimately reversed their positions on the starting grid, but the incident has raised questions about Verstappen's temper on the track. Some wonder if the FIA will keep a closer eye on him in the future.
Verstappen, who has already secured the title, has shown in the past that he is not afraid to get physical on the track. In 2018, he famously shoved Esteban Ocon in parc ferme after a perceived slight, and earlier this season, he nearly injured Hamilton in a fiery collision at Monza. While there is no excuse for putting other drivers at risk, some argue that these intense rivalries and heated moments are all part of the excitement in Formula 1.
As the drama continues on the track, tensions have also escalated off the track between team principals Toto Wolff and Christian Horner. After Russell's outburst against Verstappen, Wolff has also not held back in expressing his views on Horner. He questions why Horner feels entitled to comment on his driver and calls him a "yapping little terrier" with something to say about everything. The rivalry between the two teams has reached new heights, with both sides not holding back in their criticism of each other.
As the season finale approaches, all eyes will be on the track in Abu Dhabi to see who will come out on top. Hamilton will be giving it his all in his final race for Mercedes, while the battle between McLaren and Ferrari for the constructor's title heats up. And as for the drama and tension between drivers and teams, it seems that it will continue to be a major part of the sport that fans can't get enough of.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
