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Lewis Hamilton Makes Late Change to Car at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Ahead of Final Race with Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion, has been the subject of a late change to his car ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, as confirmed by an official FIA announcement. This comes as Hamilton prepares for his final race with Mercedes at the Yas Marina Circuit, bringing an end to a highly successful 12-season partnership with the German manufacturer. As Hamilton gets ready to close out his Mercedes career, the 2024 season marks the final chapter before he joins Ferrari in 2025, with hopes of securing an unprecedented eighth world title and solidifying his place as the most successful driver in F1 history.
Hamilton’s decision to move to Ferrari for the 2025 season has been one of the biggest stories of the 2024 campaign, with many fans and pundits speculating on how the shift will impact both his career and the landscape of Formula 1. However, before embarking on this new challenge, Hamilton is focused on ending his time at Mercedes on a high note. The 39-year-old Briton has enjoyed a career filled with numerous successes, including 105 race wins, but his final season with Mercedes has been a far cry from his dominant years.
Despite taking two race victories in 2024—at Silverstone and Spa—Hamilton’s performance throughout the season has been disappointing compared to previous years. He currently finds himself in seventh place in the drivers’ championship standings, trailing behind his teammate, George Russell. The contrast in form between the two teammates has been stark, with Russell outqualifying Hamilton 18 times out of 23 events this season. This has raised eyebrows among fans and analysts, many of whom are used to seeing Hamilton at the front of the grid, but this year, his results have not lived up to expectations.
With the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix being his last race for Mercedes, Hamilton is determined to secure a strong finish, and his team has made a strategic move to give him every possible advantage in his quest for one final victory. According to an official FIA document, Mercedes made a late modification to Hamilton’s W15 car ahead of the weekend’s action. The change involved running a different gearbox assembly outside of the restricted-number components (RNC) during the first two practice sessions, FP1 and FP2. This alteration is notable because teams are only allowed to make such changes on a limited number of occasions throughout the season. In fact, the use of different gearbox assemblies is restricted to just four instances per season.
This particular change marks the third time Mercedes has made use of this allowance in the 2024 season. Fortunately for Hamilton, the timing of this change means he will not incur any penalties for the alteration. According to the FIA regulations, as long as the team has not exceeded the four allowed instances, no grid penalties or other sanctions are imposed. Given that this change falls within the allowable limit, Hamilton will be able to continue his race weekend as planned, without facing any additional setbacks.
The decision to alter Hamilton’s car at this late stage of the season speaks to the team’s commitment to giving the seven-time champion the best possible chance of success in his final race for the team. While the 2024 season has not been as successful as Mercedes had hoped, the German team will be keen to send Hamilton off in style, with a potential victory at Yas Marina acting as a fitting conclusion to a glorious partnership.
As Hamilton prepares to drive for Ferrari in 2025, the final race at Abu Dhabi will undoubtedly be an emotional one for both the driver and his team. The W15 car modifications are a small but significant reminder of how much is at stake in this final race for Mercedes. The 39-year-old has already achieved extraordinary success in his career, but he remains as determined as ever to add to his legacy before transitioning to his new team.
While Hamilton’s 2024 season may not have met his usual high standards, his experience, skill, and determination mean that he will not go down without a fight. The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with its dramatic twists and turns, may yet provide him with an opportunity to finish his long and successful Mercedes chapter on a high note, as he bids farewell to the team that helped him secure all seven of his world championships.
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