F1 News: Lewis Hamilton Shares “Emotional” Message Ahead Of Mercedes Exit

Lewis Hamilton speaks out on emotional Mercedes exit at the end of 2024.

At the launch of the Mercedes W15 at Silverstone, Lewis Hamilton opened up about the emotional whirlwind he experienced as he witnessed the reveal of his final Mercedes car. This occasion was particularly poignant, given Hamilton’s announcement just weeks prior that he would be leaving Mercedes at the end of the 2024 season, replacing Carlos Sainz.

Key Takeaways:

• Hamilton discusses the emotional impact of witnessing the W15 launch.
• His move to Ferrari in 2025 ends a historic partnership with Mercedes, highlighted by numerous championships.
• Despite the upcoming departure, Hamilton is focused on Mercedes’ success for the remainder of his tenure.

Hamilton reflected on his journey with Mercedes, stating:

“It’s obviously been emotional.

“It’s very surreal to be here, given that I came here in 2013 – 11 years with the team, starting my 12th.

“It is such a privilege to work with a group of people where you see the work they do over the winter, we’ve gone through this process over the last couple of years.

“You see a car come together at the beginning of the year – it’s the most exciting part of the season really, when you see in everyone’s launches.

“This is the first time I’ve seen the car come together as a whole, but to know everything that’s underneath the hood – which people won’t get to see but George [Russell] and I will get to experience on the track – it’s exciting.”

His move to Ferrari represents not just a change in team but the conclusion of a chapter that saw Hamilton secure six of his seven World Championships with Mercedes.

Despite the bittersweet nature of the 2024 season, Hamilton remains committed to his role at Mercedes, aiming to elevate the team back to its pinnacle. The past seasons have been a test of resilience for both Hamilton and Mercedes, but they have also been a period of growth and introspection.

“The focus through the whole of winter training is getting the team back to where we once were.

“We’ve had this difficult couple of years which I think has been really grounding for us. It’s helped us regroup.

“We’ve had to relook [sic] at things and it’s now just going through the important process – being really diligent with our work, understanding the data, understanding the car, maximising for practice.

“Even just the one lap we might get in the rain today might give George and I a bit of a feeling of what’s to come.”