Lewis Hamilton raced for Mercedes one last time on Sunday, capping off one among Formula One’s most profitable driver-team partnerships in a cloud of tire smoke, heartfelt radio exchanges and a efficiency befitting a seven-time world champion.
The 39-year-old Briton, set to hitch Ferrari subsequent season, arrived at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit in purple, bidding an emotional farewell as tributes flooded the airwaves.
“We dreamed a lot, but together we believed,” Hamilton stated after ending fourth within the season finale, a race he began sixteenth attributable to a plastic bollard changing into wedged underneath his automobile in qualifying.
“Thank you for all of the braveness, the dedication, the fervour and the whole lot in supporting me.
“What started as a leap of faith turned into a journey into the history books. We did everything together, and I’m so, so grateful to everyone.”
Hamilton carried out smoking “doughnut” spins for the gang on the end straight, then acquired out, huddled by the automobile, and kissed it.
He embraced race winner Lando Norris, who secured McLaren’s first constructors’ title in 26 years.
Hamilton’s 12 years at Mercedes introduced them six driver’s titles, eight constructors’ championships, 84 wins, 78 poles and 153 podium finishes.
Hamilton’s personal data lengthen properly past that, with a primary title for McLaren in 2008 – the group additionally powered by Mercedes – and his private tally of wins now at 105.
Every lap probably the most profitable driver within the sport’s historical past has accomplished has been powered by the three-pointed star of a Mercedes engine.
Fourteen seconds behind teammate George Russell with 15 laps to go, Hamilton reeled in his compatriot and handed him on the ultimate lap.
As so typically previously, the decision got here from race engineer Peter Bonnington telling him it was “Hammer time.”
“I think when he said it was ‘Hammer time,’ I was like, ‘That’s the last time I’m going to hear that.’ It really clicked for me in that moment,” Hamilton instructed Sky Sports.
“I was just giving absolutely everything to the car. I wanted to finish on as much of a high and give every ounce of me to the team as they’ve given me all of these years.”
Team boss Toto Wolff instructed Hamilton he would at all times be a part of the household.
“Lewis, that was the drive of a world champion,” he stated after the end, assuring the motive force that Mercedes would cheer for him on these events once they couldn’t win.
The season has not been all clean crusing, with Hamilton annoyed by his automobile’s efficiency and his personal difficulties in qualifying.
He additionally admitted that the lengthy goodbye to Mercedes had been “massively” more durable than he anticipated.
“It’s a beautiful day, a very strange feeling,” he stated earlier than Sunday’s driver parade across the circuit. “I can’t really put into words what I’m feeling at the moment, but I think ultimately just gratitude.”
Source: www.dailysabah.com