S Poddar
Lewis Hamilton’s final season with Mercedes has been an emotional rollercoaster. The legendary driver, who will be moving to Ferrari next year, first experienced the euphoria of record-breaking wins like at Silverstone and Spa before suffering from early exits in Austin and Brazil.
The Brazilian Grand Prix proved to be particularly trying for Hamilton. He was knocked out in Q1 qualifying, battling from a disappointing start position to salvage a single point with a P10 finish. His post-race radio message to the Mercedes team sent shockwaves through the F1 community.
If this is the last time I get to perform, Hamilton said, his voice heavy with emotion, it was a shame it wasn’t great, but grateful for you.
Ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, the first race of the season’s closing triple-header, Hamilton acknowledged the raw emotions that fueled his message.
“In the heat of the moment, that’s exactly how I felt,” he confirmed. “After a weekend like that, it was tough to come back. It’s frustrating, especially with a season like this. I’m determined to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Hamilton described them as a temporary setback in what was still a much bigger journey. “It wasn’t a great feeling in that moment,” he acknowledged, “but I’m here, I’m focused, and I’m going to give it my absolute all for these last few races.”
The three-week gap between Brazil and Las Vegas would prove to be just the opportunity that Hamilton needed, getting him out of pressure mode for a bit. “I had an amazing week,” he reported, “working on some really cool projects, including the F1 film. There’s much happening outside of racing, like my project with Tyler, The Creator. These are important things that help me recover from difficult weekends.”
Hamilton admitted he understood the appeal of carefree existence. “Of course, in the heat of the moment, I’d rather be on a beach somewhere,” he chuckled. “But the truth is, I love what I do. I’m here to give absolutely everything these last few races and finish strong. That’s always been the plan.”
As Lewis Hamilton gets ready to move on to the next page with Ferrari, his remaining races with Mercedes promise to be an emotional rollercoaster. He will strive to end on a high note, even as he eyes the challenges and opportunities ahead of him with the legendary Italian Scuderia.
