Lewis Hamilton was satisfied with his final grand prix as a Mercedes driver after finishing fourth in Abu Dhabi.
The seven-times world champion, wbo won six of those titles with Mercedes, is leaving the team after 12 seasons with them, to join Ferrari.Hamilton had to work hard for his fourth place from 16th on the grid. After starting on hard tyres, he gained four places on the opening lap.
He rose as high as third as he ran a longer opening stint than his rivals, then pitted after half-distance to switch to the medium rubber. Hamilton then overtook Nico Hulkenberg and Pierre Gasly to gain fifth place.
Over the latter stages of the race Hamilton hunted down team mate George Russell, closing down a 14-second deficit and passing him for fourth on the final lap.
“That was a tough, tough race,” Hamilton told the official F1 channel after the race.
“The beginning was a little bit slow and I was really struggling in that early phase. But to be able to come back through at the end, come back from sixth to fourth, I’m really, really, really happy with that. A mega job from the team and definitely a good way to end.”
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Hamilton was given a special position on the pit straight after the race alongside the podium finishers to mark the final race for F1’s most successful team and driver combination. Hamilton’s emotions were clear to see as he knelt beside his W15 after racing it for the final time.
“It was the last time I’m going to be in the cockpit of a Mercedes,” he said. “So I was just trying to enjoy that moment.
“Obviously I did the whole race, but there’s so much you’re doing in it. Just to be able to hold on to that moment, because it’s history now.
“All my races, they’ve all been powered by Mercedes, and all the success we’ve had. So I just sat there to think about all that and really contemplate just how great a journey it’s been.”
Hamilton appeared to allude to his future team when he arrived at the Yas Marina circuit wearing a bright red outfit. However he said he will always have affection for his Mercedes team.
“I’m going to miss them,” he said. “I can’t tell you how much I’m going to miss them.
“It’s going to be a huge amount, because I’ve worked with them every day for the past 12 years. But there’s a lot of love within his team and that’s not going anywhere.”
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PB
8th December 2024, 18:00
Final race sums up the season.
Hobbled by Mercedes, dropped down the grid, fights back and passes curiously unaffected Russel on the final lap.
Ben
8th December 2024, 18:24
A nice end to their time together. A podium would have been fantastic, but I wanted to see Hamilton fight through with a solid drive and that’s what we got. Sure Russell didn’t put up much defence, but P4 or P5 that was an incredible drive from Hamilton today.
RedEaredRabbit (@redearedrabbit)
8th December 2024, 18:28
I thought he did a really good job today and it was nice to see him end his Mercedes career on a happy note.
Aquila_GD
8th December 2024, 18:33
That was a champion’s drive. He final lap move on Russell was brave. It was unexpected and I suspect not even Russell knew he would take that line.
Ajaxn
8th December 2024, 19:12
“Use the force Lewis”
Ajaxn
8th December 2024, 19:10
With Russell on to finish ahead of Hamilton on championship points, i didn’t think there was any real competition in the race besides personal pride. How wrong i was.
By finishing ahead of Russell, Hamilton pipped it for most points of their Mercedes partnership. 697, to 695. Hamilton can claim bragging rights, managing the car the better when the car was at its worst.
The press would have had a field day if Russell had finished the better driver overall.
[It would be interesting to know if Hamilton has been bested by overall by any of this team mates]
JOA20
8th December 2024, 19:43
I think Button did out score Hamilton at McLaren (thought Lewis finished ahead in 2 years out of 3)
MichaelN
8th December 2024, 20:06
2007: Hamilton 107 – Alonso 107
2008-2009: Hamilton 147 – Kovalainen 75
2010-2012: Hamilton 657 – Button 672
2013-2016: Hamilton 1334 – Rosberg 1195
2017-2021: Hamilton 1918.5 – Bottas 1327
2022-2024: Hamilton 697 – Russell 695
So yes, Button is the only one who outscored Hamilton during their time together.
Craig
8th December 2024, 20:24
Meanwhile championship finishes;
2007: Hamilton 1 – Alonso 1 (?)
2008-2009: Hamilton 2 – Kovalainen 0
2010-2012: Hamilton 2 – Button 1
2013-2016: Hamilton 3 – Rosberg 1
2017-2021: Hamilton 4 – Bottas 0
2022-2024: Hamilton 1 – Russell 2
Personally I’d use this over total points scored but both are worthwhile details to remember. It’s just a shame some people seem to only use ‘Button scored more points’ or ‘Russell beat him twice’ to beat Hamilton with rather then appreciate that Button and Russell are, you know, actually very good.
Oleg
8th December 2024, 20:50
So what?
Do you see the races or just the tables?
For example, Button and Rosberg knocked Hamilton off the track in those seasons
when they were ahead of him in the final table.
Also, if Rosberg was ahead of Michael in all respects for 3 consecutive seasons
when they were teammates, then how does this change the roles
of Schumacher and Rosberg for Formula 1?
Oleg
8th December 2024, 20:53
Well, how Russell “beat” Hamilton could we see today
Craig
9th December 2024, 8:25
Stats indeed don’t tell the full story, just thought I’d point it out as certain stats in isolation can give one impression that changes when put in context with others.
MichaelN
8th December 2024, 22:27
Indeed, points and positions always need context, especially when it’s close.
Button, Hamilton and Russell are all fine drivers.
SteveP
8th December 2024, 22:31
Hamilton 1 – Alonso 0
The championship order was Raikkonen, Hamilton, Alonso. LH and FA equal on points but LH on count back.
If the team hadn’t inexplicably told LH to stay out on incredibly worn tyres until there wasn’t enough grip to make the pit lane entrance properly that finish order for the year would have been Hamilton, Raikkonen, Alonso.
Still, at least no one had to crash to protect FA vanity.
Craig
9th December 2024, 8:24
Fair point
Drg
9th December 2024, 15:12
Correct
And do you not just love everyone once again trotting out the Button three year Championships that only he knew about?
And only Hamilton gets measured by?
Suddenly it is a metric? How? When?
He lost – 2-1 and his winning year was how many points behind Vettel?
How about some of the other Button stats like 44/14 in qualifying?
Jenson was a great racer but to even suggest after the mess of 2012 he was even close to LH to anyone that actually saw the great Macca do anything it could to assist Jenson in getting to the front of the grid?
While the championship contender on the other side run race after race with insane strategy decisions and a car the fell apart while he was happily in the lead at numerous races. I remember GP+ doing a rundown and analysis showing 130 points bled away completely on the team.
That was an easy championship win thrown away and they wonder why he left?
Now nothing ever goes smoothly but Alonso is rightfully given credit for an amazing run in 2012.
I would argue Hamilton’s was the equal.
It is not only RB that has trouble serving up good cars for both drivers.
As for the wheel bearing in 2010? Let alone the fuel mess.
Another team based championship loss.
Thankfully the ridiculous hubris maclaren had at that time has ended and they finally won something on merit even if it not the actual championship they wanted.
I have to hope that Norris gets over his Max love in and they take equal care with an obvious talent on the other side.
André
8th December 2024, 22:41
Points are important, but you would need to account for DNFs due to unreliability and accidents caused by others to paint the correct picture in each Championship.
DaveW (@dmw)
8th December 2024, 22:06
Hamilton also beat Verstappen in his last race in a Mercedes at Abu Dhabi. It was also interesting that he took a place in the outside of the parabolica on the last lap which he failed to be able to do in 2021 to retake the lead for lack of tire life.
SteveP
8th December 2024, 22:32
True, no dominant car today, and Masi is ‘retired’ from F1
Craig
9th December 2024, 8:26
He’s not the only one to have made that overtake this weekend but was always awesome to watch drivers pull it off.
Osnola
9th December 2024, 10:26
If they only changed tires in 2021…
Still lost by wrong strategy.
SteveP
9th December 2024, 18:25
Scenario 1 – as per history, where RBR having changed the tyres on their lead driver, lobby insanely long and loud to get Masi to break the rules regarding SC lapped cars and SC in laps the car with the massive tyre advantage goes past the one with old tyres with no lapped cars getting in the way.
Senario 2 – alternate, where RBR having seen Mercedes stupidly bring their driver in for new tyres keep their driver out and lobby long and loud for the correct application of SC rules and the RBR car with worn tyres shuffles along behind the SC watches it go in and turns the corner in a slow graceful curve knowing no one is allowed to overtake until after the start/finish line and that’s the end of the race.
Nope, Mercedes did what they needed to do to win, under the rules as written. Masi deservedly left the sport in disgrace.
Everyone who knows the rules, knows who really won.
But you know all that.
BTW. Are you going to turn around when FA has a Newey car to drive? Or continue to be A-about-F?
Rahim.RG
12th December 2024, 3:26
Absolutely right. Mr Osnola still seems to be living in Denial after all these years :)
Broderick Harper (@banbrorace)
9th December 2024, 14:06
The problem is, Masi didn’t have one