Lewis Hamilton described his time with Mercedes as the best honour of his life after the seven-time champion bowed out along with his remaining race for the workforce on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. After a superlative drive on the Yas Marina circuit, Hamilton additionally admitted that, after a tough 12 months, it was good to bid farewell on a excessive.
Hamilton drove from sixteenth to fourth in Abu Dhabi, one other mighty efficiency to sit down alongside what has been an unmatched partnership of success with Mercedes since he joined the workforce in 2013. He has taken six titles with them and 84 wins over these 12 seasons and at his final race earlier than he joins Ferrari subsequent 12 months, he took a second to ponder all of it on the shut when he was given a particular place to park on the start-finish straight alongside the highest three, the place he knelt beside his automotive.
“Once I stopped the automotive I simply needed to embrace the second, as a result of it’s the final time I’m going to step right into a Mercedes and symbolize them, it’s been the best honour of my life,” he mentioned.
“I imply each second that I’ve obtained within the automotive this week, I’ve recognized that it’s one of many final and it’s been actually onerous to let go. I’m pleased with each race, each pole place, each win we’ve had collectively, each championship, so once I knelt subsequent to it I used to be simply giving thanks, firstly thanking my very own spirit for persevering with to push, thanking everybody that powered and constructed that automotive. I’m pleased with everybody.”
Having been denied an eighth title after the controversial end to the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Mercedes and Hamilton have struggled for the reason that laws modified in 2022, the workforce failing to develop a automotive that was constantly fast and properly balanced. This 12 months, whereas improved, the automotive remained mercurial and Hamilton and the workforce additionally needed to modify to the truth of his leaving, which he introduced earlier than the season started and which had not been a straightforward job.
“It’s been a extremely turbulent 12 months, in all probability the longest 12 months of my life, I’d say, as a result of we’ve recognized from the start that we’re leaving,” he mentioned. “It’s like a relationship if you’ve advised whoever the counterpart is that you simply’re leaving, however you’re residing collectively for a complete 12 months. Plenty of ups and downs emotionally, however we completed off with a excessive at this time.”
Lando Norris gained the race on the Yas Marina circuit, securing McLaren’s first constructors’ championship for 26 years in doing so after a commanding drive from pole to the flag. He beat each Ferraris to seal the title underneath no little stress, particularly after his teammate, Oscar Piastri, had been bundled out of rivalry on the opening lap by Max Verstappen. An achievement of which he was rightly proud.
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“At present was a really big day for all of us,” he mentioned. “It was ours to lose at this time and I’m certain at sure moments individuals thought that it was not far-off from being misplaced. The larger image of us profitable a championship for the primary time in 26 years, it feels mistaken to say that McLaren haven’t gained a championship in 26 years, however for me to be a part of that, for Oscar to be a part of it, is one thing we’re extremely pleased with. Delivering that for the workforce has put the most important smile on everybody’s face.”
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