Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton have spent 12 seasons together, but the most successful partnership in Formula 1 history is about to come to an end.
After winning six Drivers’ Championships and eight Constructors’ Championships, Lewis Hamilton will bid farewell to Mercedes at the conclusion of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Sponsorship commitments will prevent Hamilton from driving for Ferrari during the post-season test, but it won’t be long until the 39-year-old is seen in the iconic red racing overalls.
However, the final few years of Hamilton’s time with Mercedes haven’t quite gone to plan.
Hamilton lost out to Max Verstappen on the final lap of the 2021 season and Mercedes have failed to reach those same heights ever since.
The Brit’s emotional victory at Silverstone this year was his first win since that season.
Hamilton’s win at Spa looks set to be the final time he stands on the top step of the podium with his current team.
BBC Sport commentator Harry Benjamin was speaking on the Chequered Flag Podcast about Hamilton’s relationship with Mercedes.
He believes one statement he made during the Qatar Grand Prix race weekend suggests that their time together is coming to an end at just the right time.
Why Lewis Hamilton may have ‘fallen out of love’ with Mercedes this season
Talking about another difficult race weekend for Hamilton, Benjamin said: “I’m definitely not fast. I really don’t care.
“These are the words that the seven-time world champion has used across this weekend.
“And for a man that was so full of confidence last week in Vegas, he had a poor qualifying but he carved his way through the field.
“But almost that compounds what’s going on this weekend because he’s not able to back up that great form the next week after when his teammate can.
“And that’s what’s getting Lewis Hamilton down. His highs are high, but his lows are low.
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“And this roller coaster that he rides in between them all absolutely migrates so quickly from top to bottom. He’s been outqualified by his teammate, George Russell, 18-5 this season.
“He hasn’t had a top-five start in the last five races. For me, and I thought this for a little while, but the comments this weekend that he’s been making have confirmed to me that Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes, I think, have fallen out of love with each other.
“And I think he has checked out and he wants this season done. He can’t explain his reasons for not being there on one-lap pace. And we know he’s Lewis Hamilton. He’s fast.
“I don’t think he’s lost skill. I just think mentally he’s ready for a new challenge. And so too are Mercedes.”
Lewis Hamilton needs a confidence boost at Ferrari next season after qualifying woes
Hamilton has been outclassed by Russell in qualifying this season and the seven-time world champion has been left unable to understand the problem.
David Coulthard was worried by Hamilton’s latest statement on his qualifying performances, and at Ferrar, he arguably faces an even tougher task.
Charles Leclerc has been touted as F1’s best qualifier and Hamilton will have his work cut out against the Monegasque driver.
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Frederic Vasseur has done a very good job building up Ferrari during his time as team principal.
He previously worked with Hamilton during his junior career and will need to inspire an upturn in his form on Saturdays if he’s going to have any chance of securing a record-breaking eighth world championship.
