Lewis Hamilton left the F1 media centre ‘shaking’ after key moment from his Mercedes farewell season

Lewis Hamilton’s incredible 12-year stint at Mercedes has come to an end as he embarks on his next adventure in Formula 1.

The seven-time champion will head to Ferrari in 2025 as he looks to continue his legacy in F1 and search for his record-breaking eighth title with the sport’s most successful team.

Hamilton grabbed six of his seven drivers’ championships with Mercedes between 2014-2020 and set numerous records, including the most wins, pole positions and podiums in F1 history.

The 39-year-old added to those records in his final season with the Silver Arrows in 2024, but it was not the farewell year that he would have hoped for. Hamilton finished the season in seventh in the standings; the lowest finish in a championship of his career.

Mercedes once again struggled to give Hamilton and teammate George Russell a competitive and consistent car in the ground effect era, as they finished fourth in the Constructors’ Championship behind McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull.

Qualifying was a major issue for Hamilton in 2024 as he struggled to find pace in the W15 over one lap, leaving him dejected with his machine and himself. Justin Bell says Hamilton must get rid of these self-defacing comments before he heads to Ferrari so he can hit the ground running with his new team.

Lewis Hamilton’s overtake on George Russell at Silverstone left the F1 media centre ‘shaking’

While there were many difficulties at Mercedes in 2024, the team did have some moments of brilliance in the season as they claimed four wins – Hamilton and Russell grabbing two each.

The seven-time champion had not won a race heading in 2024 since the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, and the Brit finally put an end to that losing streak at his home race at Silverstone.

READ MORE: Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton’s life outside F1 from net worth to family

In the unpredictable conditions, Hamilton battled with his teammate and the McLaren of Lando Norris at the front and produced some great overtakes, including on Russell at Stowe corner for the lead on lap 18.

For journalist Joel Lischka, this was his manoeuvre of the year as he reflected on how the media centre was left ‘shaking’ by the noise of the crowd as Hamilton past Russell on his way to his record ninth win at Silverstone.

“The best was also Lewis Hamilton in Silverstone. For me it is my manoeuvre of the year when he overtook his teammate George Russell,” he said via the ams.F1 YouTube channel.

“Yes that was less spectacular than Sainz against Verstappen (Australia) or Piastri against Leclerc (Baku), but when he then drove down towards Stowe when it started to drizzle and you noticed now his time is up and after the long phase where he didn’t win a race and then they escalated.

“So the fans in Silverstone were shaking and the whole press centre too, I’m getting goosebumps right now without wanting to be a fan.”

Can Lewis Hamilton perform at Ferrari despite his difficulties at Mercedes in 2024?

While Mercedes have replaced Hamilton with exciting Italian sensation Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the loss of the seven-time champion will certainly be difficult to cope with.

Jolyon Palmer has no confidence that Mercedes will improve in 2025 with Russell now taking over as team leader and Antonelli coming in to replace F1’s most successful driver statistically.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Lewis Hamilton’s 2025 Ferrari move from wage to when Mercedes knew

There is also questions over whether Hamilton will be able to perform at Ferrari given his struggles in 2024. The Brit will be working with a new team, a new language and a new teammate in Charles Leclerc, who is well-established with Ferrari and is one of the strongest drivers over one lap.

Helmut Marko claims Hamilton is still ‘world-class’, which he has proven at times during the season, particularly at his final race with Mercedes where climbed through the field to finish fourth from P16.

However, Ralf Schumacher stressed Hamilton can’t develop a Ferrari like Michael Schumacher can – who the Brit will be looking to emulate when he switches silver for red in 2025.