Breaking : Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes farewell ‘surreal’ but Briton hopeful…..read more.

Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes farewell ‘surreal’ but Briton hopeful…..read more.

Lewis Hamilton described his farewell to Mercedes as a “surreal” experience, but remains optimistic about competing in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. After 12 years with the team, Hamilton is set to transition to Ferrari following the conclusion of the 2024 season. During Friday’s practice session at Yas Marina, he finished fifth-fastest, just behind Carlos Sainz of Ferrari and six tenths behind McLaren’s Lando Norris, who topped the session.

Reflecting on the day’s events, Hamilton expressed satisfaction with his performance, saying, “It felt better today. It’s not been such a bad day.” He emphasized the importance of being present in the moment, enjoying his time with the engineers and the team, and cherishing each experience as he prepares for his last race with Mercedes. “I’ve really enjoyed driving the car today and working with the guys in the garage,” he added.

Despite feeling competitive, Hamilton acknowledged the challenges posed by McLaren and Ferrari, saying, “We’ve got some work to do.” He noted that while their long-run pace looked promising, they needed to improve on single-lap performance to be more competitive. Hamilton admitted that it has been an emotional year, particularly after announcing his switch to Ferrari before the season began. He openly shared his struggles with managing these emotions during his final weekend with Mercedes, stating, “There’s no trick to it, I’m trying to keep my emotions under control as much as I can.”

In contrast, his teammate George Russell has displayed more consistent form throughout the year. However, on Friday, he finished three tenths behind Hamilton in