Lewis Hamilton’s split with Mercedes was one of the biggest storylines of the 2024 season, as a 12-year partnership in Formula 1 came to an end.
It was the most successful driver and team partnership of all time in the championship’s history, yielding six Drivers’ world championships and eight Constructors’ titles with Mercedes.
During his time at Mercedes, Hamilton became statistically the greatest driver of all time in F1 having achieved the most wins (105), most poles (104) of which 78 came at Mercedes, and 153 of his 202 podiums.
Hamilton decided to leave the team to join Ferrari for 2025, realising a lifelong dream while also making a move in a bid to win an eighth world title at 40 years old. If he does win a title at Ferrari this year, Hamilton will be the oldest driver to achieve the feat since Jack Brabham in 1966.
Although the latter stages of Hamilton’s Mercedes were marred by poor results and mixed performance on track, team principal Toto Wolff still sought to send off one of his most successful drivers with respect.
In the latest series of Drive to Survive, which airs on Netflix on 7 March, cameras picked up the emotinal voice message that Wolff sent to Hamilton after their final race in Abu Dhabi.
Toto Wolff sends Lewis Hamilton emotional voice message after final race in Abu Dhabi
Hamilton ended his Mercedes career with a dramatic move on George Russell at Abu Dhabi, securing fourth in the final laps of the race. He would later pay tribute to their partnership by performing donuts on the start/finish straight after the race.
Wolff sent Hamilton a voice message after the race, commemorating their successful time together and wishing him good luck in his next chapter in F1.
“Hi Lewis. I’m on the go so I thought it’s better to leave you a voice note. Now is the moment we all knew was coming. We’ve raced our final lap. The longest and most successful partnership in Formula 1 history has come to an end. We conquered our sport and changed it too. Soon, you will start a new chapter with Ferrari in 2025,” said Wolff.
“People are going to come and go. Just remember the most important thing. You always find your people. The ones who dream with you, who fight with you, the ones who have your back and your ear, who never stop believing in you. Even when you think it might be your best season in F1. Remember, every dream needs a team. So take care, my friend, and see you on the track.”
What Lewis Hamilton told Carlos Sainz about Mercedes move
The latest season of Drive to Survive contains a lot of fly-on-the-wall moments from the 2024 season, with the Hamilton to Ferrari story taking centre stage.
In the first few episodes, Hamilton’s announcement is covered with Wolff expressing his shock after several years and their success together.
READ MORE: Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton’s life outside F1 from net worth to family
Hamilton can also be seen talking to Carlos Sainz during pre-season testing in Bahrain, where microphones picked up him telling the Spaniard that he did not think they would win again.
Wolff considered Sainz for the drive along with Max Verstappen, but ultimately chose 18-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Sainz would go on to race for Williams this season, after several months of deliberations between three teams.
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