Hamilton in SHOCK failure admission as FIA announce

Hamilton in SHOCK failure admission as FIA announce disqualification at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix…..read more

Lewis Hamilton has opened up about the emotional challenges he faced during his final season with Mercedes in 2024, admitting to the difficulties he encountered both personally and professionally. The seven-time world champion’s last year with the Brackley-based team was marred by frustrations with the performance of the W15 car, leading to a season filled with highs and lows. Despite securing victories at the British Grand Prix in Silverstone and the Belgian Grand Prix in Spa, Hamilton found himself overshadowed by his younger teammate, George Russell, who consistently outperformed him in qualifying and races. The championship battle, too, was one-sided, with Hamilton falling behind Russell in the standings.

Hamilton’s discontent was evident throughout the year, as he often expressed his frustration during interviews. One particularly candid moment came after the Las Vegas Grand Prix, where Hamilton revealed that he had even contemplated leaving Mercedes before the season ended. This admission highlighted the deep dissatisfaction he was experiencing with his car and the overall situation at Mercedes.

However, in the final race of the season at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Hamilton displayed a much more positive attitude, offering a glimpse of the man he once was. Starting from 16th on the grid, Hamilton managed to make an impressive comeback, finishing in fourth place. This strong performance at Yas Marina marked a fitting conclusion to his career at Mercedes, as he prepares to switch teams for the 2025 season, where he will join Ferrari.

Reflecting on the 2024 season, Hamilton acknowledged that it had been a difficult year, both professionally and emotionally. Speaking to the media in Abu Dhabi, he admitted that he had not handled the emotional strain of the season as well as he would have liked. “The first meeting at the beginning of the year with Toto [Wolff] was awkward, of course, to the day after when I took some of the team paintballing and they’d just found out,” Hamilton recalled, referencing his early struggles to adapt to the challenges. “I’d anticipated it would be difficult, but massively underestimated how difficult it would be. It was straining on the relationship very early on, it took time for people to get past it.”

The emotional toll of the season affected not just Hamilton but the entire Mercedes team, as they navigated the challenges of trying to improve the car and keep up with the competition. Hamilton acknowledged that his emotions sometimes got the best of him, and he admitted that he could have handled those moments more effectively. “It’s been an emotional year for me, and I think I’ve not been at my best in handling and dealing with those emotions,” he said. “I would definitely say this year’s been one of the worst in handling that from my side, which I’ll work on trying to be better at.”

Despite the struggles, Hamilton spoke warmly of the relationships he built with the team during his time at Mercedes. He emphasized the importance of the bonds formed through the shared experiences of a Formula 1 season, which can be intense both on and off the track. “I’ve built some incredible relationships,” Hamilton explained. “If you imagine when you’re going through a season together with so many people, you’re not only riding the highs and lows together on race weekends but also in their personal lives – through marriages, divorces, loss of family members, cancer, through all sorts. You’re going through these journeys with beautiful people, so it’s a really beautiful journey you go on together.”

He also reflected on the deep emotional connections that develop after spending so many years with the same team. “And being there so long, the emotions run so deep,” he added, speaking about his long tenure at Mercedes and the people who had been by his side throughout his journey. While the 2024 season may not have been the fairytale ending he had hoped for with Mercedes, Hamilton’s reflections show a deep appreciation for the experiences and relationships he formed during his time with the team.

As he looks ahead to his future with Ferrari, Hamilton’s emotions regarding his time at Mercedes remain complex. Yet, despite the ups and downs, his acknowledgment of the team’s efforts and the personal growth he experienced over the years paints a picture of a man who is ready for the next chapter of his Formula 1 career.