Lewis Hamilton raced his last for Mercedes at the recently concluded Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. As the seven-time world champion crossed the Checkered Flag, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff took to the team radio to hail the departing driver.
Hamilton signed a multi-year contract with Ferrari earlier this year that will see him join the Prancing Horse next season. He will team up with Charles Leclerc and replace the Williams-bound Carlos Sainz.
Hamilton arrived at Mercedes from McLaren in 2013. As he leaves after 12 years, he is leaving the legacy of being the most successful F1 driver. At Mercedes, he claimed 84 race wins, 78 pole positions, and 153 podiums.
After the #44 driver crossed the finish line, race engineer Peter Bonnington took to the team radio to praise the seven-time world champion’s performance. He stated:
“Nice work Lewis! That’s P4 mate. And that’s the end of an era! Gotta say it’s been epic working with you.”
Following this, Wolff hailed the British driver. Here’s what he said:
“Lewis that was the drive of a world champion.”
Lewis Hamilton started his race from P16 after qualifying in P18 on Saturday. However, he made a brilliant recovery to finish the race in P4, ahead of his teammate George Russell.
Lewis Hamilton shared his departing thoughts with Peter ‘Bono’ Bonnington
After Lewis Hamilton crossed the Checkered Flag, he got emotional and shared his thoughts on the team radio. The seven-time world champion thanked his race engineer, team principal, and all the crew at Brackley and Brixworth for their ‘hard work’ all these years.
Here’s what Hamilton told Bono on the team radio:
“The pleasure’s been mine. Yea Bono, we dreamed alone, but together we believed. And as a team, we achieved things that… Thank you for all the courage, the determination, the passion, and for seeing me and supporting me.”
“What started out 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. From the bottom of my heart; all the best.”
Lando Norris of McLaren claimed the victory in the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, ahead of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc. As a result, his team clinched the 2024 constructors’ championship ahead of the Prancing Horse.
