Lewis Hamilton speaks this morning before his final Formula One grand prix with Mercedes in Abu Dhabi this weekend.
The seven-time F1 world champion will make his move to Ferrari in 2025, but will first attempt to end a troubling season on a high with the Silver Arrows after 12 years.
Hamilton will preview the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit alongside Carlos Sainz on Thursday, the Spaniard is being replaced by the Briton with the Scuderia next season and jumping to Williams to continue his career.
Sainz will play a crucial role in this weekend’s battle for the constructors’ title, with McLaren holding a significant advantage.
While Max Verstappen will enjoy a final race having already clinched a fourth successive world title. Follow all the latest updates as the Dutch driver, Hamilton, Sainz and more preview the race:
08:49 , Jack Rathborn
So often a figure of hope and optimism, it has been tough listening to Lewis Hamilton’s outright despondency on the airwaves in recent weeks. In many ways, stretching back to the Brazilian Grand Prix at the start of November, it has been a month which has been a stark microcosm of his final three years at Mercedes.
First, there was the hopelessness. At one of his favourite tracks, Interlagos in Sao Paulo, Hamilton was in no man’s land at the back of the pack in his favoured wet conditions. As the race ended, he even mooted that he might not take to the cockpit for the final three races of the year. The talk was quickly squashed by his team.
Then, there was the missed opportunity. Bizarrely, and for reasons Toto Wolff and his engineers do not fully understand, Mercedes had the quickest car in the cold air of the Las Vegas night. Hamilton was in the fight for pole position but failed to execute a clean qualifying lap when it mattered. He surged through the field to finish second behind teammate George Russell. But Lewis Hamilton is not a happy camper with P2 next to his name.
Lewis Hamilton’s three-word admission that gives Ferrari a huge problem
08:47 , Jack Rathborn
Firstly, here’s how you can follow and watch the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2024 this weekend to conclude the F1 season.
McLaren lead Ferrari by 21 points in the battle to be constructors’ champions after Lando Norris’ shock penalty in Qatar meant the Scuderia narrowed the deficit in the standings. McLaren are looking to win the constructors’ title for the first time since 1998, while Ferrari have not won the teams’ crown since 2008.
This weekend will also be Lewis Hamilton’s 246th and final grand prix for Mercedes. The seven-time world champion, who won six of his titles with the Silver Arrows, joins Ferrari in 2025 and will be looking to end his time with Mercedes on a high after a torrid weekend in Qatar.
Max Verstappen won last year’s race in Abu Dhabi and has won the last four grands prix at the Yas Marina Circuit, including the controversial finale to the 2021 season.
