Lewis Hamilton opens up on underestimating ‘difficulties’ of ultimate Mercedes season forward of Abu Dhabi GP farewell

Lewis Hamilton admitted he “massively underestimated” what his last yr at Mercedes could be like within the wake of asserting that he was becoming a member of Ferrari for 2025 and that he has not at all times dealt with his feelings in the easiest way.

Hamilton will race for the Silver Arrows for the 246th and last time at F1’s season finale in Abu Dhabi this weekend, the ultimate chapter in a team-driver relationship that has rewritten the game’s report books over the previous 12 years.

However because the seven-time champion prepares to shut a tough season wherein he’s on target for his worst championship end in F1, a reflective Hamilton opened up on the strains and feelings of the previous 11 months since his bombshell Ferrari swap was made public.

“The first meeting with Toto [Wolff] at the beginning of the year was awkward, of course, so it was awkward from the get go,” stated Hamilton in Thursday’s Drivers’ Press Convention.

“The day after, once I took among the crew paintballing, they usually had simply came upon. So there’s been a great deal of moments by way of the yr. I obtained shot at so much by individuals, a great deal of bruises. Folks went in on me that day.

“I anticipated it could be tough, however massively underestimated how tough it could be. It was straining on the connection very early on, it took time for individuals to get previous it.

“After which simply from my very own self, it has been a really emotional yr for me, and I feel I’ve not been at my greatest in dealing with and coping with these feelings.

“So many of you have been here my whole career, so some of you, I think you’ve all seen the worst in me, and the best of me.

“And I am not going to apologise for both as a result of I am solely human, and I do not at all times get it proper. And I’d positively say this yr has been one of many worst by way of dealing with that from my facet, which I’ll work on making an attempt to be higher at.”

Hamilton although stated that finally it could be the highs of their towering achievements collectively and the energy of relationships constructed on the crew which finally will stand the check of time.

“I hope the good and the highs far outweigh the negatives, in how I’ve handled it, or behaved,” he added.

“And as I said, just remember the good times. I’ve built some incredible relationships. If you imagine when you’re going through a season together with so many people, not only on those race weekends are you riding the highs and lows together, but in their personal lives, through marriages, through divorces, through loss of family members, through cancer, through all sorts – you’re going through these journeys with these people.

“So, it is a actually lovely journey you go on collectively, and being there for thus lengthy, the feelings run so deep.”

More to follow…

Sky Sports F1’s live Abu Dhabi GP schedule

Friday December 6
5.45am: F1 Academy Practice
7am: F2 Practice
9am: Abu Dhabi GP Practice One (session starts at 9.30am)*
10.55am: F2 Qualifying
12.45pm: Abu Dhabi GP Practice Two (session starts at 1pm)*
2.30pm: F1 Academy Qualifying*
3.15pm: The F1 Show*

Saturday December 7
8.10am: F1 Academy Race One
10.15am: Abu Dhabi GP Practice Three (session starts at 10.30am)
12.10pm: F2 Sprint Race
1.15pm: Abu Dhabi GP Qualifying build-up
2pm: ABU DHABI GP QUALIFYING*
4pm: F1 Academy: Race Two
5pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook

Sunday December 8
7.10am: F1 Academy Race Three
9.20am: F2 Feature Race
11.30am: Grand Prix Sunday: Abu Dhabi GP build-up
1pm: THE ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX
3pm: Chequered Flag: Abu Dhabi GP reaction
4pm: Ted’s Notebook

*also live on Sky Sports Main Event

Watch the final race of the 2024 Formula 1 season – the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – live on Sky Sports F1, with Sunday’s race at 1pm. Get Sky Sports activities F1 or stream with NOW