Lewis Hamilton concluded his historic Mercedes partnership with a remarkable drive at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, surging from 16th on the grid to finish fourth in his final race for the Silver Arrows.
The seven-time world champion delivered a vintage performance, charging through the field before making a final-lap overtake on teammate George Russell.
The emotional significance of the moment crystallised when his race engineer Peter Bonnington issued one last “Hammer Time” instruction.
“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 told Sky Sports.
The 39-year-old, who will join Ferrari next season, demonstrated his unwavering determination throughout the race, stating: “I didn’t give up, we kept pushing.”
In an emotional radio exchange after crossing the finish line, team principal Toto Wolff praised Hamilton’s performance, declaring: “Lewis, that was the drive of a world champion. Amazing!”
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Hamilton’s response captured the magnitude of their shared journey: “Thanks, Toto. That was fun. It’s been a pleasure all the way.”
The British driver then delivered a poignant message to his long-time race engineer Peter ‘Bono’ Bonnington: “We dreamed alone, but together we believed. And as a team, we achieved things.”
His voice filled with emotion, Hamilton continued: “Thank you for all the courage, the determination and the passion for seeing me and supporting me. What started out as a leap of faith turned into a journey into the history books.”
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“The pleasure’s been mine,” Bonnington replied, marking the end of one of Formula 1’s most successful partnerships.
After completing his final lap, Hamilton celebrated with a series of emotional gestures that captured the significance of the moment.
The Briton performed celebratory donuts on the Yas Marina track as the crowd chanted “Lewis, Lewis.”
In a particularly poignant moment, Hamilton knelt beside his Mercedes car before standing atop it to salute the spectators.
“I just wanted to embrace the moment, because it’s the last time I’m going to step into Mercedes and represent them,” Hamilton reflected.
Lewis Hamilton celebrated with some donuts on the grid
Reuters
“When I knelt next to it, it was just about giving thanks, firstly thanking my own spirit for continuing to push, and thanking everyone that powered and built that car,” he added.
The display marked a fitting farewell to what Hamilton described as “the greatest honour of my life.”
Hamilton’s departure marks the end of Formula 1’s most successful driver-team partnership, spanning 246 races over 12 remarkable years.
During his time with Mercedes, Hamilton secured 84 race victories and claimed six of his seven world championships.
Lewis Hamilton will join Ferrari next season
Reuters
The statistics tell the story of their dominance, with Hamilton also achieving 78 pole positions with the Silver Arrows.
In a touching final message, Wolff emphasised Hamilton’s enduring connection to the team: “You are always going to be part of this team. If we can’t win, you should win!”
Despite finishing seventh in this year’s drivers’ championship – his lowest position in 17 years of Formula 1 – Hamilton’s legacy at Mercedes remains unparalleled.
The Briton will now embark on a new chapter with Ferrari in 2025, partnering Charles Leclerc.
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