Lewis Hamilton admitted it was “emotional and surreal” to be at the start of his final season with Mercedes before he joins Ferrari for 2025.
The seven-time world champion stunned the world of Formula One earlier this month by revealing he would be leaving Mercedes after exercising a break clause in the two-year deal he signed in 2023.
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Speaking for the first time this morning, at the unveiling of Mercedes’ new W15 car, the 39-year-old said: “It’s obviously been emotional, it’s very surreal to be here. I came here in 2013, 11 years with the team, starting my 12th.
“It is such a privilege to work with a group of people where you see the work they’re doing over the winter. You see a car coming together at the beginning of the year.”
Even though he is soon to depart, Hamilton couldn’t hide his excitement at fulfilling the 2024 season with Mercedes alongside George Russell.
“This is the most exciting part of the season really,” he added.
“You’re seeing everyone’s launches, this is the first time I’ve seen the car come together as a whole. To know everything underneath the hood, which people won’t get to see, but George and I will be able to experience on the track. It’s exciting.”
F1 2024. Here we come 👊 pic.twitter.com/vvYL8BAx6P
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) February 14, 2024
Mercedes finished second in the Constructors’ Championship standings last season, a whopping 451 points behind runaway leaders Red Bull.
Team principal Toto Wolff is confident the German marque can continue to be the ‘best of the rest’ while backing the Hamilton-Russell combination to shine.
“Our aim is to consolidate our position to Ferrari, McLaren and Aston Martin. At the same time, race at the very front,” he said.
“What is it we got wrong? Why did the virtual world not correlate with the real world? The buzz in the company is something I haven’t seen in years. We know it’s a big mountain to climb. We have the best driver combination, hopefully the best car.”
