Lewis Hamilton’s final season with Mercedes has been anything but a fairytale ending. After 11 years and six world championships with the Silver Arrows, the seven-time F1 champion made headlines with his decision to join Scuderia Ferrari for 2025. While the partnership between Hamilton and Mercedes has been one of the sport’s most successful, Hamilton’s farewell tour has been marred by the struggles of the W15 car and missed opportunities on track, casting a shadow over what should have been a glorious send-off.
Hamilton’s frustration has been building, with 2022 marking the first winless season of his career—a stark shift for a driver who dominated for nearly a decade. The disappointment continued through 2023, fueling Hamilton’s decision to move to Ferrari. But even with the choice made, Hamilton still hoped to close out with strong performances. He briefly rekindled the magic with a “fairytale” win at Silverstone, but the season’s inconsistency quickly returned, eroding any sense of triumph.
The challenges of the ground-effect era have left the W15 feeling unpredictable and uncompetitive, with Hamilton frequently vocalizing his discomfort during qualifying sessions. At the recent Brazilian GP, he seemed to reach a tipping point, delivering a cryptic message over the radio that hinted at his impending exit. While Mercedes later clarified the comments, the tension was evident—Hamilton has mentally moved on, looking forward to Ferrari’s fresh prospects rather than clinging to the final races with Mercedes.
While teammate George Russell has outperformed Hamilton in points this season, Hamilton appears unfazed, focused instead on what lies ahead. Ferrari’s steady progress and recent performances make the Scuderia a more promising prospect for Hamilton, who is eager to start a new chapter in 2025. The conclusion of his Mercedes era may indeed be an emotional farewell, but for Hamilton, it’s clear that the thrill of a fresh start with Ferrari overshadows any nostalgia for his former team.
As the 2024 season wraps up, fans are left with a bittersweet end to Hamilton’s storied Mercedes journey—a partnership that, while still legendary, won’t get the Hollywood ending once imagined.
