KUALA LUMPUR — Seven-time Formula One (F1) world champion Lewis Hamilton described his 12-year partnership with the Mercedes AMG Petronas team, which began in 2013, as a bond built on trust, passion, and shared dreams—far beyond a mere business relationship.
Hamilton emphasised the rarity of finding an organisation where everyone works tirelessly in unison, crediting this unity for their success, including the transition to the hybrid power unit and six world championship titles achieved together as a “family.”
The 39-year-old British driver shared his exhilaration about racing with a car that instilled confidence through its consistent performance.
“It was like there was real passion and real drive for change, for winning, for success, and we did it together so I like to think that in many years to come, people that are within the company, within the team, people that followed us from all over will always remember these beautiful days that we had together because they were epic,” he said.
Reflecting on the start of his journey with Mercedes, Hamilton recalled being 28 years old and nervous during his first seat fit.
However, he appreciated the team’s openness to his requests, which allowed his identity to blend seamlessly with theirs.
“When I started and embarked on the journey, I didn’t put any targets in it. I just was like, we’re going to give it everything and see where it goes, and we achieved so much more than I think any of us thought that we would,” he shared during an exclusive media session at Petronas Twin Towers yesterday.
Despite moments of self-doubt, Hamilton credited his longevity with Mercedes to their shared drive for continuous improvement.
“I loved working in the place that I was working, and I think I felt like we were not done. I felt like we still had more to achieve. There were still more things for us to accomplish together and so we just went from one year to another year.
“And there was along that way, there was never a question of, do we continue the next year? It was like, okay, next year, this is what we’ve got to do. This is what we’re working towards,” he said.
When asked about the most memorable moment in his career with Mercedes, Hamilton pointed to his 2024 British Grand Prix victory, which ended a 945-day win drought. Sharing the moment with his family and team was especially meaningful.
He admitted that seeing his accomplishments sometimes feels surreal.
“I have been a part of a huge chain of people and I just see myself as one of those links and I’ve cherished my small link in that chain of so many people working so well together. We’ve created great bonds. It’s been awesome,” he said.
Hamilton, who has won over 100 Grand Prix races and helped the team clinch eight Constructors’ Championships, will leave Mercedes at the end of this season, which features a 24-race calendar. Starting in 2025, he is set to join Ferrari.
The seven-time world champion (2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020) leaves behind a legacy that cements his place as one of the greatest drivers in Formula One history. — December 11, 2024