Lewis Hamilton says he has 'no more tears' left after closing his 12-year Mercedes Formula 1 chapter at an emotional Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Hamilton announced as early as February that he would move to Ferrari in 2025, ensuring his Mercedes farewell would be drawn out over the entire campaign, which suffered highs and lows as Mercedes struggled to find consistent performance with its W15.
The team paid tribute to the driver that delivered six championships at 2024's season finale at Yas Marina, which looked set to end on a whimper when a loose bollard derailed Hamilton's qualifying on Saturday.
But the seven-time world champion fought back on an alternate strategy to climb all the way from 16th to fourth, passing team-mate George Russell on the last lap.
Hamilton's final weekend for the Silver Arrows included a surprise gathering on Thursday evening in its paddock club suite where the team premiered a video montage to thank its talismanic driver.
"We’ve definitely had our ups and downs," he said. "There have been certain feelings that I’ve chosen to go a certain way and it’s not been easy for people to accept and get over.
"But, bit by bit, through the year what has come through is real love at the end of the day. I’ve got board members from Mercedes who have stood by and supported me all of these years who were upset at the beginning but they said ‘you’ll always be a part of the family’.
"On Thursday, the team surprised me upstairs and that was super-emotional. I’ve not got any more tears, everything came out then.
"It’s been a turbulent year – probably the longest year of my life because we’ve known from the beginning that we were leaving and it’s like a relationship when you’ve told whoever the counterpart is that you’re leaving, but you’re living together for a whole year.
"Lots of ups and downs emotionally but we finished off on a high today; with a strong, hard battle, no mistakes and a solid drive."
After celebratory donuts on the grid, Hamilton looked sunk in thought as he kneeled by his W15.
When asked what went through his mind at this point, he said: "Just those moments. Every moment that I’ve got into the car this week I’ve known that it’s one of the last and it’s been really clear and really hard to let go.
"When I stopped the car, I wanted to embrace the moment because it’s the last time I’m ever going to step into a Mercedes and represent them. It’s been the greatest honour of my life."
