Lewis Hamilton sent a touching message to Mercedes staff ahead of his switch to Ferrari ahead of next season. The Formula One icon was emotional after concluding his final race for the Silver Arrows in Abu Dhabi.
Hamilton announced at the start of the year that 2024 would be his final season with Mercedes. Ferrari will be his next destination as he attempts to win a record eighth world title.
The 39-year-old endured a tough year with Mercedes and has made frequent complaints about the performance of his vehicles since his last World Drivers’ Championship triumph in 2020. However, it seems he is leaving on good terms after celebrating with his colleagues one final time.
“This is really it. After Abu Dhabi, after Kuala Lumpur, and after Stuttgart it comes to an end here,” Hamilton wrote on Instagram, accompanied by pictures of him posing with Mercedes staff.
“This has been my home. To the thousands of people who work at Brackley and Brixworth, you have been friends and team-mates and I can’t thank you enough for all the hard work and support. It’s been real.”
Hamilton endured a tough final four years at Mercedes, controversially losing the 2021 title to Max Verstappen before struggling with consistent performances. But he ended on a high with a fourth-place finish at the Abu Dhabi Grand.
“It has been probably the longest year of my life, knowing from the beginning I was leaving,” Hamilton reflected afterwards.
“It’s like a relationship that you’ve told whoever the counterpart is you’re leaving but you’re living together for a year. Lots of ups and downs but we finished on a high today. Each moment I have known it was one of the last and it has been really clear and really hard to let go.
“When I stopped the car. I wanted to embrace the moment. Representing Mercedes has been the greatest moment of my life. Just giving thanks, my own spirit for not giving up, everyone the power to have built that car. I am proud of everyone.
“We’ve definitely had ups and downs but what’s come through is there has been real love.
“The board members who have stood by and supported me all these years, who were upset at the beginning, but today were saying you will always be part of the family. It just shows there is a lot of love between us.”