After more than a decade of loyal service, Lewis Hamilton drove his last race for Mercedes at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The seven-time world champion will move to Ferrari in 2025, marking the end of one of the most successful collaborations in the history of Formula 1. However, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff does not rule out the possibility of welcoming the British driver back to the team once Hamilton’s Formula 1 career is over.
Lewis Hamilton has been driving for Mercedes since 2013, a partnership that has been highly beneficial for both the British driver and the German team. Hamilton clinched the drivers’ title six times in a Mercedes car, while the team secured the constructors’ title eight times during the same period. With the seven-time world champion’s move to Ferrari, this collaboration comes to a temporary halt. Yet, Toto Wolff leaves the door ajar for Hamilton.
“There is no such thing as an end to the collaboration between Mercedes and Lewis,” Wolff shares in the Beyond the Grid podcast. “Lewis has decided to do something different for the final part of his career, and I understand that. But he will always be part of the family. And perhaps, once he’s done with racing, we can embark on other adventures together.
Singapore 2018
With seven world titles to his name, Lewis Hamilton, alongside Michael Schumacher, still firmly holds the record for the most titles. According to Wolff, Hamilton’s driving skills were best demonstrated during his pole lap at the 2018 Singapore GP.
“He was really struggling that week,” recalls the Mercedes team boss. The British driver had just entered a partnership with fashion brand Tommy Hilfiger, and had to travel around the world for it prior to the race in Singapore. “A lot of people were asking us then: ‘Why do you tolerate this? A driver needs to prepare well’.”
During the free practice sessions at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, it seemed for a moment that the critics would be proven right, as it was Red Bull and Ferrari who were clocking the fastest times. “And then Lewis came and he drove faster than any other driver during that qualifying round,” Wolff looks back proudly. “Nobody said anything about it then.” Hamilton then took pole position with a three-tenth advantage over second-placed Max Verstappen, and claimed victory the following day.
