Lewis Hamilton savored his ultimate moments along with his Mercedes automobile after ending his spell with the group on a excessive with a restoration drive to fourth place within the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
A Q1 exit on Saturday had left Hamilton dealing with a troublesome job within the ultimate race of the season, however he was the one driver to start out on laborious tires to attempt an alternate technique in opposition to the remainder of the sector on mediums. A strong opening few laps noticed him achieve 4 positions from his Sixteenth-place grid slot and Hamilton then produced an entertaining ultimate stint to shut in on teammate George Russell and make the transfer for fourth on the ultimate lap of the race.
“[Russell] was driving nice — clearly he began rather a lot additional forward than I did, so to catch the 14 seconds was powerful,” Hamilton mentioned. “He was placing in good laps, and so it took perfection — I needed to actually put collectively one of the best laps I may probably do.
“Clearly in Vegas I used to be catching for a time frame after which stopped, so I used to be making an attempt to be sure that I saved taking chunks out of that hole, and I solely caught him proper at that final lap, and I used to be like, ‘I’ve received to make it, it’s now or by no means,’ and so I simply went for it.
“I imply, each second that I’ve received within the automobile this week, I’ve identified that it’s one of many final. And it’s been actually, actually clear and actually laborious to let go. So I believe after I stopped the automobile I simply needed to embrace the second, as a result of it’s the final time I’m going to step right into a Mercedes and characterize them.
“It’s been the best honor of my life — they’ve powered each race, each pole place, each win we’ve had collectively, each championship, so I believe after I knelt subsequent to it I believe it was simply giving thanks, to firstly thanking my very own spirit for not giving up and persevering with to push, thanking everybody that powered and constructed that automobile, I’m happy with everybody.”
Hamilton says the sturdy drive has no bearing on his outlook for 2025 at Ferrari, however that he was glad that that he received to log off from Mercedes with such a efficiency.
“It’s not that I must believe — I’ve at all times had the arrogance — however positively very nice to complete with a powerful laborious battle. No errors, strong drive.
“It’s been a very turbulent 12 months, most likely the longest 12 months of my life, I’d say, as a result of we’ve identified it from the start that we’re leaving, and it’s like a relationship — whenever you’ve informed whoever the counterpart is that you simply’re leaving, however you’re dwelling collectively for a complete 12 months! A lot of ups and downs, emotionally, however we completed off on a excessive as we speak.”
