Lewis Hamilton faced one of the most challenging weekends of his career in Austin, struggling significantly with performance. The team had high expectations for him, especially since he was equipped with the latest upgrade package. In contrast, George Russell had to revert to an older specification due to lacking new components. Hamilton’s qualifying session turned into a disaster as he could not advance to Q2. To compound the issues, his race on Sunday ended prematurely on lap 3 when he got his W15 stuck in the gravel.
However, the seven-time world champion would not want to leave Mercedes on such a sour note. As the 12-year partnership nears its end, the Briton is already filled with emotions as he moves to Maranello. Therefore, the 39-year-old Brit has planned a grand tour of Mercedes facilities before the swap.
Lewis Hamilton Keen On Departing Mercedes With ‘Dignity’
Recent reports from a German publication, AMuS, suggest Lewis Hamilton plans a grand farewell tour as he prepares to leave Mercedes for Ferrari. Hamilton aims to depart from the team with “dignity,” which is why he intends to wait until 2025 before publicly donning Ferrari colors.
As part of his farewell, Hamilton has outlined several stops on his tour. He plans to travel to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to personally express his gratitude to Petronas, Mercedes’ long-time sponsor. After that, he will visit the Mercedes headquarters in Stuttgart and then go to the team’s factories in Brackley and Brixworth. Recognizing that he has won six of his seven World Championships thanks to the hard work of countless employees at these locations, Hamilton wants to take the time to bid farewell in person.
Before embarking on this farewell journey, Hamilton is focused on finishing his tenure at Mercedes on a high note by securing another race victory, adding to his impressive tally of 84 wins with the Silver Arrows. It’s not just Hamilton looking to conclude this chapter successfully; Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff also wants to ensure that Hamilton receives the farewell he deserves.
Toto Wolff Wants To ‘Celebrate’ A Grand Hamilton Farewell
Since the summer break, Lewis Hamilton has faced significant challenges on the track, struggling to finish higher than fifth in the last five races of the season. Despite these difficulties, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff remains optimistic that Hamilton can achieve positive results in his final races with the team. He expressed the desire to celebrate Hamilton’s last season with Mercedes and aims to finish it on a high note.
However, for Hamilton to have a strong conclusion to his tenure, the team must address the handling issues that have plagued the W15, particularly during the recent race in Austin. Improving the car’s performance is crucial if they want to support Hamilton in securing the results that would mark a fitting end to his illustrious career with the Silver Arrows.