Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion, is preparing to conclude his illustrious partnership with Mercedes at the end of the 2024 season, a move that will see him race for Ferrari in 2025.

This transition marks a significant shift in F1 dynamics as Hamilton leaves behind one of the most successful driver-team partnerships in the sport’s history. Speculation abounds on how Mercedes will handle Hamilton’s transition and the new direction for both the team and the driver.

Damon Hill, 1996 F1 World Champion, recently commented on the potential changes within Mercedes, suggesting that Hamilton may gradually be excluded from technical discussions surrounding the 2025 car development.

While Mercedes has been known for its fair treatment of team members, Hill believes it’s likely they’ll protect next year’s developments as Hamilton readies to join Ferrari. “I think it’s got to [happen],” Hill said, emphasizing that Mercedes will need to withhold some strategic insights as a protective measure.

Hamilton has issued a statement on his highly competitive nature, asserting that he remains focused on winning his final races with Mercedes. “I don’t care who [my competitor] is; I just want to win,” he said, reflecting his enduring commitment to the team and his gratitude toward Mercedes staff who have supported his journey.

The question of Hamilton’s successor has sparked significant interest. One rumored candidate is the 17-year-old Italian prodigy Kimi Antonelli, who would bring a youthful boost to Mercedes’ lineup. Yet, Mercedes and Hamilton’s immediate priority remains this season, with recent performance gains contributing to his 104th and 105th career wins at Silverstone and Spa.

Mercedes’ engineering director Andrew Shovlin shared insights into the team’s ongoing technical efforts, particularly with the W15 car’s evolving performance. Hamilton has found the W15’s more stable configurations to his advantage in recent races, and Shovlin noted both Hamilton and teammate George Russell have benefitted from similar setups as they navigate the team’s final races together.

As the season nears its end, Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff has acknowledged the challenges and triumphs of leading the team. Since joining Mercedes in 2013, Wolff has overseen both the team’s rise and its recent period of adaptation amid regulation changes in 2022. Mercedes, which has shown renewed strength this year with victories in Austria, Silverstone, and Spa, remains focused on optimizing the W15’s temperature stability issues for future races.

Hamilton and Mercedes will soon bid farewell to an era that has seen record-breaking success, with the iconic racer aiming for additional wins as a fitting close to his time with the Silver Arrows. Meanwhile, fans eagerly await the impact of Hamilton’s impending Ferrari era and the fresh energy his successor will bring to Mercedes.