Lewis Hamilton took to the track for Mercedes one final time on Sunday, marking the end of Formula One's most triumphant driver-team collaboration with a flurry of tyre smoke, heartfelt radio messages, and a performance befitting a seven-time world champion. The 39-year-old Briton, who will be racing for Ferrari next season, arrived at Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina circuit on race day donning red and departed with emotional farewells echoing through the airwaves.
"We dreamed a lot but together we believed," Hamilton said, after finishing fourth in a season-ender he started at 16th due to a plastic bollard becoming lodged under his car during qualifying.
"Thank you for all the courage, the determination, the passion, and everything in supporting me." What began as a leap of faith evolved into a journey through the annals of history. We accomplished everything together, and I am profoundly grateful to everyone.
Hamilton executed some smoking 'doughnut' spins for the crowd on the finish straight, then exited his car, huddled beside it, and kissed it. He embraced race winner Lando Norris, who secured a first constructors' title in 26 years for his former team McLaren.
Hamilton's 12-year tenure at Mercedes yielded six drivers' titles, eight constructors' championships, 84 wins, 78 poles, and 153 podium finishes. Hamilton's personal records extend far beyond that, with a first title for McLaren in 2008, powered by Mercedes, and his personal tally of wins now at 105.
Every lap the most successful driver in the sport's history has completed has been powered by the three-pointed star of a Mercedes engine. Fourteen seconds behind teammate George Russell with 15 laps remaining, Hamilton closed the gap and overtook him on the final lap.
Hamilton shared images of the 'first and last' times on his X handle. As has often been the case in the past, the call came 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 hit me in that moment," Hamilton told Sky Sports television.
"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 assured Hamilton he would always be part of the family.
"Lewis, that was the drive of a world champion," he said after the finish, assuring the driver that Mercedes would be cheering for him on those occasions when they could not win.
The season has not been without its challenges, with Hamilton frustrated by his car's performance and his own difficulties in qualifying. He also admitted that bidding farewell to Mercedes had been 'massively' harder than he anticipated.
"It's a beautiful day, a very strange feeling," he said before Sunday's driver's parade around the circuit.
"I can't really put in words what I'm feeling at the moment, but I think ultimately just gratitude."
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