F1 News Today: FIA announce LAST-MINUTE Hamilton change as...

FIA Announces Late Change to Hamilton’s Car at Abu Dhabi GP Amid Investigation

In a surprising turn of events, the FIA has revealed that Mercedes made a last-minute alteration to Lewis Hamilton’s car ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. This comes as Hamilton prepares for his final race with Mercedes, capping off a 12-year partnership that has been one of the most successful in Formula 1 history.

The seven-time world champion, who will be leaving Mercedes after the 2024 season to join Ferrari in 2025, is looking to finish his Mercedes career on a high note. With two race victories already under his belt this season, Hamilton hopes to add one more before his move, as he continues his quest to become the most successful driver in F1 history by clinching a record eighth world title.

Hamilton’s decision to join Ferrari has been one of the biggest off-track stories of the season. After dominating the sport for years with Mercedes, Hamilton will face a fresh challenge at Ferrari, where he hopes to break the tie with Michael Schumacher and secure his place as F1’s all-time greatest driver.

Despite his long list of achievements, Hamilton’s final season at Mercedes has been a challenging one. He currently sits seventh in the drivers’ standings, a significant drop compared to previous seasons. While he has managed two wins—at Silverstone and Spa—this year, his overall performance has been far from what fans and pundits have come to expect from the legendary driver. In fact, his teammate George Russell has outqualified him in 18 of the 23 races so far this season, highlighting the struggles Hamilton has faced in 2024.

Ahead of his final race with the team, it was confirmed by the FIA that Mercedes made a late adjustment to Hamilton’s W15 car. According to official documents released by the governing body, Mercedes ran a different gearbox assembly outside of the restricted-number-components (RNC) during the first two practice sessions of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend. These changes, although late in the season, are permitted under FIA regulations, provided they do not exceed the allowed number of component changes for the year.

This marks the third time in 2024 that Mercedes has made such a change to Hamilton’s car, which means he will avoid any penalties heading into the final race. Teams are only allowed four such changes throughout the season, meaning Hamilton remains within the limits. The adjustment was likely made to optimize his performance in what has been a difficult year for the 39-year-old driver, as he attempts to finish his Mercedes career on a positive note.

While Mercedes has not provided detailed explanations for the gearbox change, the decision reflects the team’s ongoing efforts to support Hamilton in his last race with them. Despite a challenging season, Hamilton remains determined to give his best performance at the Yas Marina Circuit and add another win to his already impressive tally, which currently stands at 105 career victories.

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix holds significant weight not just for Hamilton, but for the entire Mercedes team, as they prepare to part ways with a driver who has brought them unparalleled success. Over the course of their partnership, Hamilton and Mercedes have won multiple world championships together, with their dominance in the turbo-hybrid era reshaping the sport.

As Hamilton bids farewell to Mercedes, the team will be keen to send him off with a strong performance. Meanwhile, all eyes will be on the Yas Marina Circuit, where Hamilton will compete for the last time in Mercedes colors, marking the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter in his illustrious career with Ferrari in 2025.

The late change to his car adds yet another layer of intrigue to what promises to be an emotional and intense finale to the 2024 season, as Hamilton looks to cap off his time with Mercedes in style before embarking on his next challenge.