F1 F1 – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – December 5, 2024 Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton at the Grand Prix Reuters/Hamad I. Mohammed
ABU DHABI – Lewis Hamilton has admitted he “massively underestimated” how difficult his long parting ways with Mercedes would be ahead of the team’s emotional final race in Abu Dhabi this weekend. .
The 39-year-old seven-time world champion surprised the F1 world in February by announcing that he would be leaving Mercedes, which he has supported since his go-kart days, to join Ferrari at the end of the year.
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Mercedes signed 18-year-old Italian Kimi Antonelli to replace the Briton and had time to adjust, but Hamilton told reporters at Yas Marina that the move had not been easy.
Read: F1: Lewis Hamilton meets emotional end to ‘great’ Mercedes
“I expected it to be difficult, but I seriously underestimated how difficult it would be,” he says.
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“There was tension in the relationship very early on and it took a while for people to get over it. And speaking for myself, this year has been a very emotional year for me.
“And I don’t think I was in the best shape to handle and deal with those emotions.”
Read: F1: Lewis Hamilton OK to wait for Ferrari test
He has won a record 105 races and has two wins this season, including at his home race at Silverstone, but he has struggled with the handling of his car. With more than 350 races under his belt and as he approaches 40 years old, questions have been raised about his speed.
“I’m still figuring it out,” Hamilton said in Qatar last weekend. But his frustration was evident, especially in qualifying when teammate George Russell led 18-5. He even hinted that he might not be able to complete the season in Brazil.
Hamilton heads for emotional final Grand Prix for Mercedes
F1 F1 – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – December 5, 2024 Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton at the Grand Prix Reuters/Hamad I. Mohammed
“I think you’ve seen the worst in me and you’ve seen the best in me, and I’m not going to apologize for either because I’m only human and I don’t always know what’s right. ” he said in Abu Dhabi. .
“I can definitely say that this year has been the worst year in terms of how I’ve been treated, but I’m going to try to be better.
“But I hope the positives and the positives far outweigh the negatives and how I dealt with it and how I acted.”
Read: F1: Lewis Hamilton ends an era as McLaren and Ferrari battle for title
Hamilton has won six of his seven titles with Mercedes and could have won an eighth at Yas Marina in 2021, but a controversial change to safety car procedures occurred while he was in the lead. I once brewed it. He has started 246 races for the team.
As the only black driver on the starting grid, his achievements include transforming Mercedes, and by extension the sport, into a more racially diverse and welcoming environment.
Ferrari is the team that has given Michael Schumacher five of his seven titles, and will be his third team since debuting with McLaren in 2007.
“I’m not going to compare myself to Michael. I don’t see it that way,” the Brit said. “I’m not thinking about that at the moment.
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“I’m trying to think about finishing in the right way and in the best possible way with Mercedes. The days ahead will be very emotional.”
