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Hamilton’s Mercedes ride hits finish line before Ferrari bound

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Lewis Hamilton is reflecting on an “incredible journey” and essentially the most profitable partnership in Formula One historical past as he prepares to half methods with Mercedes and be part of Ferrari this week.

The transfer marks a recent begin for the 39-year-old Hamilton, who has confronted a troublesome conclusion to his closing season with Mercedes. Ferrari’s first problem subsequent 12 months could also be serving to him regain his type.

“I don’t think we’ll end on a high,” Hamilton said after finishing 12th in Qatar on Sunday, following a race filled with penalties, a puncture, and even a request to retire the car. Just two days earlier, he admitted he was “positively not quick anymore” after struggling in qualifying.

Hamilton’s closing race for Mercedes on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday will carry an finish to a 12-year tenure with the crew, the place he secured six of his seven world titles, essentially the most by any driver with a single crew.

As an all-time nice and the game’s solely Black driver, Hamilton’s affect extends far past the F1 grid.

Hamilton shook up F1 with the shock announcement in February that he would be part of Ferrari in 2025 – a choice he even saved secret from his dad and mom – and the prospect of leaving Mercedes has overshadowed this season.

“I’ve had all year to think about it, so there’ve been those highs and lows throughout the year. I can’t predict how I’m going to feel next Sunday after the race, or the days to follow, or at Christmas time,” Hamilton stated final week.

Hamilton stated he would miss the “family” environment at Mercedes and can depart with heat recollections, together with of Niki Lauda, the previous F1 champion who performed a key function in bringing him to the crew and who died in 2019.

“There are many, many great moments. Moments with Niki, amazing conversations, arguments,” Hamilton stated. “It’s been an amazing journey together, one that I’ve genuinely loved.”

The final time Hamilton switched groups, he discovered it exhausting to avoid his previous employer. Hamilton recalled the incident in 2013 when he mistakenly drove into McLaren’s pit on the Malaysian Grand Prix, in his second race after leaving for Mercedes.

“I remember when I joined this team it was strange driving past my old team in the pit lane, to the point that I stopped at theirs at one point,” he stated.

After an emotional victory at his dwelling British Grand Prix in July ended a 945-day anticipate a win, Hamilton took one other victory on the Belgian Grand Prix when his teammate George Russell completed first however was disqualified.

Since then, although, Hamilton has positioned behind Russell in 10 of 12 races, together with sprints.

Qualifying has been Hamilton’s largest drawback, forcing him to attempt to make up locations on race day.

“When you’re always back where I am (on the grid), it makes it very hard, almost impossible, to be competing for wins,” he stated final week.

Hamilton is lacking one potential likelihood to drive the Ferrari this 12 months within the testing session after the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. He stated it’s not attainable underneath his contract with Mercedes however he didn’t wish to begin his Ferrari profession that means, anyway.

It’s possible Hamilton will get behind the wheel at Ferrari’s famed Fiorano check observe early subsequent 12 months.

“I know (Ferrari team principal) Fred (Vasseur) wanted it to happen. For me, I was in two minds. Driving the red car for the first time in Abu Dhabi does not excite me. In a perfect world, you’d get to drive and not be seen and do the first rollout next year,” he said. “Am I lacking out on one thing? For positive.”

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