In his final outing for Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton gives a typically bravura performance, spurred on by 'Bono's call for "Hammer-time!"

Though he is heading to arguably the most iconic team in motor sport, Lewis Hamilton will never forget his 12 years with the Three Pointed Star.

Twelve years in which he secured six titles and 84 wins.

Speaking at race end, the Briton admitted that it had been a tough final season, the longest year of his life, but that it was still a very emotional time for him.

Starting 16th on the grid, Hamilton was up to twelfth by the end of the first lap and on the final lap passed his teammate to claim fourth, going around the outside in the infamous Turn 9.

Urged on by Toto Wolff, who insisted "You can do it", Hamilton overcame a 14s deficit to his teammate that served notice that 'the boy's still got it'.

The first stint was really, really difficult," said Hamilton at race end. "I wasn't losing hope, but I was just like, 'ah, it's not going as well as I thought it would'.

But I didn't give up," he continued, "I kept pushing, 'come on, we can get there'. I switched onto the medium, and the car came alive.

"I had a massive gap to close, so I just focused on getting absolutely everything from the car and not giving up.

"I just wanted to finish on as much of a high as possible and give every ounce of me to the team as they've given to me all of these years," he admitted.

After taking the chequered flag, the seven-time world champion celebrated the momentous occasion with some traditional donuts. Then, before climbing out of the car for the last time, he allowed himself a few precious moments. Then, climbing from the W15, he knelt down beside it.

"Every moment that I've got in the car this week I've known that it's one of the last," he said. "It's been really, really clear, and really hard to let go.

"So I think when I stopped the car I just wanted to embrace the moment, because it's the last time I'm going to step into Mercedes and represent them.

"It's been the greatest honour of my life," he added, "so I think when I knelt next to it it was just about giving thanks, firstly thanking my own spirit for continuing to push, and thanking everyone that powered and built that car. I'm proud of everyone."

When it was suggested that his hunting down of his teammate was proof that - contrary to what he suggested last week in Qatar - that he has lost some of his confidence in himself, Hamilton said: "It's not that I need to have confidence. I've always had the confidence, but definitely really nice to finish with a strong hard battle. No mistakes, solid drive.

"It's been a really turbulent year, probably the longest year of my life, I would say, because we've known it from the beginning that we're leaving. It's like a relationship, when you've told whoever the counterpart is that you're leaving, but you're living together for a whole year. Lots of ups and downs, emotionally, but we finished off with a high today."

Particularly emotional was his engineer, Pete Bonnington, calling for "Hammer-time".

"I thought, 'That's the last I'm going to hear that',"! Hamilton subsequently told Sky Sports, "it really clicked for me in that moment.

"I remember I told Bono to say it back in the first year together. I was like, don't tell me just go faster, just say tell me it's Hammer time and I'll know what it is.

"And what a roller-coaster ride I've had with Bono," he smiled, "he's been one of my closest friends for many years. It's something I didn't expect to have. He's worked with Michael Schumacher, he's worked with great drivers, but, as frustrating and painful as it can sometimes be, he's stood by me every single day without fail.

"All my races have been powered by Mercedes," he added, "all the success we've had. I'm going to miss them, I can't tell you how much I'm going to miss them. It's going to be a huge amount.

"I've worked with them every day for the past 12 years. There's a lot of love within this team, and that's not going anywhere."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by kenji, 12/12/2024 0:09

"@Chester....robust but non venomous banter is the basis for a meaningful and entertaining debate. We all, generally, have opinions shaped by our exposure and immersion to and into things we find interesting. Sometimes that is not easily transferable!!! My wife thinks my engagement with F1 is nuts. She may well be right but it's too late now LOL. "

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2. Posted by Ricardo_sanchez, 11/12/2024 14:43

"@chester …’a very good point’, was what that was supposed to read! There are doubtless other very good things your wife makes but I thought I should clarify. :-)"

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3. Posted by Ricardo_sanchez, 11/12/2024 14:41

"@chester - your wife makes a very good! Love him or loathe him, Hamilton certainly generates a lot of interest. "

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4. Posted by Chester, 11/12/2024 13:49

"Judging by the spirited banter here, I think my wife's admonition to me is truer than true: "You're going to miss Hamilton when he's gone."

Sometimes a bit of controversy heightens the senses- and the enjoyment of the battle.

Good cheer to all here."

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5. Posted by Ricardo_sanchez, 11/12/2024 10:47

"@Kenji, thanks for your responses. However, you haven’t actually engaged with the points I raised.

On the GOAT issue, I clarified I never made such a claim. Rather than addressing the statistical basis for greatness - an objective point you didn’t challenge - you deflected to Sky TV/Rosberg, niftily sidestepping my focus on Hamilton’s undeniable achievements and the fact that he isn’t responsible for what others call him!

Regarding AD 2021, you dismissed it as a ‘cop-out,’ reducing the controversy to a strategic error by Mercedes. This ignores the unprecedented nature of Masi’s decision, as well as my actual point: the psychological toll the event would have had on any athlete. Labeling it a ‘cop-out’ avoids the nuance of my argument. I raised it the context of helping understand the last 3 season’s performances.

On activism, you dismissed the topic entirely as a ‘sore point,’ avoiding any engagement.

Deflection, strawman arguments, and dismissal undermine meaningful debate. Hamilton’s legacy is clearly multi-dimensional. Whether one sees him as the GOAT is subjective, but the facts - the records, performances, and resilience - are indisputable. Criticism is valid but should be consistent and substantive.

Anyway, it’s clear this discussion isn’t likely to progress further. I’ll leave you to continue reflecting on Hamilton, who seems to occupy your thoughts more than most drivers! ;-)

All the best."

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6. Posted by kenji, 11/12/2024 1:25

"@Endre...Very well stated. I fully agree with your summary. It's always good to know that there are other people out there that are not afraid of speaking the truth as they see it unfold on the track and sometimes beyond. IMO Hamilton abused his position and used F1 as a platform for his woke agenda. Thankfully that nonsense has largely been dismantled and we are now getting back to some form of sanity!!! Roll on '25."

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7. Posted by kenji, 11/12/2024 1:17

"@Ricardo-sanchez....Sky TV used the GOAT term ad infinitum in their coverage....strangely enough at times, by none other than Rosberg! Bringing up the '21 Abu Dhabi result is a cop out. Hamilton's loss was down to the team preferring to maintain track position rather than bringing him in for new tyres and he suffered as a result of that decision. But never mind, it's easier to blame Masi. As for introducing Ricciardo to the debate just read my response to Chester. As for the activism, that's a very sore point. You have your opinions and I have mine. Time to move on as this has become boring. Let's focus on what the GOAT can realistically achieve in a Ferrari."

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8. Posted by Ricardo_sanchez, 10/12/2024 14:56

"@Kenji - you’ve introduced the GOAT argument here, even though I have never made such a claim. Obviously, the term ‘GOAT’ is entirely subjective when applied in any sport and can never be proven. However, statistics are an objective measure of greatness in F1, and on that basis, Hamilton is unmatched. The stats are undeniable, regardless of personal opinions.

As for your suggestion that Hamilton should publicly ‘decry’ being called the GOAT, isn’t that an unusual expectation? He has never self-proclaimed that title. Why should he reject a label others have applied to him? We all know it’s the media and fans that drive the narrative of greatness - it’s not something he’s actively sought. Criticising him for not explicitly rejecting the title feels like a manufactured grievance.

Returning to the broader point, you dismiss LH’s legacy because of a perceived dependency on the car, whilst ignoring his statistical dominance - such as matching Alonso for pace in his rookie season at McLaren. That’s not a balanced approach. Furthermore, you overlook a fundamental reality of modern F1: the best drivers almost always end up in the best cars because top teams actively seek out the best talent. Senna, Prost, Schumacher, and Verstappen all dominated when paired with the best machinery. Their ability to capitalise on a car’s strengths is what separates them as champions, it’s not a diminishing factor in their greatness.

It’s also worth considering the context of Hamilton’s most recent seasons. The ending to the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - where an 8th title was effectively taken out of his hands - likely had significant psychological effects. Such an unprecedented event would naturally take a toll, both personally and professionally.

On the subject of activism, while you’re entitled to your views, Hamilton’s use of his platform reflects his personal values, much like other athletes throughout history who’ve advocated for societal change. And his advocacy takes nothing away from his on-track achievements.

Finally, regarding Ricciardo, I brought him up not to compare their careers but to highlight the inconsistency in how you judge drivers. You’ve extended significant support to DR despite his struggles. The double standard is relevant."

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9. Posted by Endre, 10/12/2024 13:34

"I am totally with @kenji and @meatball on this one. Hamilton is simply changing teams at his own will, the coverage was absolutely disgusting considering that there were a number of drivers retiring for good, who weren't even mentioned when the race ended.

As for him being considered greatest, just makes me laugh. He is/was a good driver, but his career and results would be nowhere if it wasn't for the utter dominance of Mercedes for all those years. He also enjoyed a massive favoritism by his teams and the FIA throughout his career, going back to the junior categories. People who believe you can even mention his.name on the same day with Fangio or Senna are delusional. "

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10. Posted by kenji, 10/12/2024 13:18

"@Chester...I gave you an uptick but that disappeared pretty quickly? GOAT is a term which is contemporary and I agree with you 100% that it can never be proved. I sometimes tend to think more along the lines of the 'greatest races of all time'. That at least helps with driver recognition...at that particular time. I will get hauled over the coals,again, for this but two of the races that immediately come to mind and I would put into this category happen to involve two Aussies. Piastri's race with Leclerc in Baku and Ricciardos Monaco win in 2018 and to a slightly lesser degree 2016. I'm sure if I sat back and tried to remember, that there were many many other races by many other drivers as well, especially Nigel Mansell. Clouding the debate are the ancilliaries like 'team orders' and 'favoured strategies' and first dibs on the 'upgrades'. Only 97 days to go.....I think."

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11. Posted by kenji, 10/12/2024 12:24

"@ Ricardo-sanchez The reason I chose to ignore your comment was simply because the entire article is about Hamilton. If you would like to start another thread to discuss Ricciardo then let's do that but then let's remember that Ricciardo was never touted as the GOAT. Have you ever heard Hamilton publically decry the title? I have also never shied away from my criticism of Hamilton and his blatant attempts to manipulate and politicise F1 with his pre race antics slavishly adopted by the media et al. Fortunately that nonsense has now been dropped but not soon enough. In my response to @Meatball I also acknowledged Hamilton's ontrack achievements but that hasn't been mentioned. Hamilton was unbeatable for a very long period but as has now been exposed it was the car and that IMO other drivers could've achieved the same given the identical means to dominate. "

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12. Posted by Chester, 10/12/2024 11:01

"In my opinion, when the term GOAT is discussed, there is definitely a dimension of "believers network" or whatever you call it, in addition to stellar performance.

I don't traffic in GOAT for that very reason- and also because GOAT can never be proved."

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13. Posted by Wokingchap, 10/12/2024 10:10

"@Ricardo_sanchez....well written and my sentiments entirely. It's a total insult to call GOAT 'a believers network', it is gained from years of hard work and extraordinary success....... self explanatory really especially to someone so eloquent."

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14. Posted by Ricardo_sanchez, 10/12/2024 6:20

"@Kenji, it’s interesting that you didn’t address my comment, especially since it directly challenges the apparent double standard in your views on drivers like Ricciardo and Hamilton. You’ve often voiced support for Ricciardo through his struggles, even when his form has been poor and his results far below expectations. Yet, when it comes to Hamilton you seem to apply a much harsher standard.

Characterising Hamilton’s reputation as an undeserved ‘media construct’ ignores his unprecedented success with Mercedes: 84 wins, six championships, and countless records. The tribute to the partnership was not about the present moment - it reflected his extraordinary legacy with the team.

As others have said, everyone respects your right to dislike Hamilton, but consistency in applying arguments goes a long way in making them more credible. Supporting Ricciardo through his difficulties whilst lambasting Hamilton highlights a subjective bias rather than an objective analysis of their merits as drivers. Perhaps this double standard stems from an aversion to Hamilton’s undeniable success or his personality, rather than his actual performances on track.
"

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15. Posted by kenji, 10/12/2024 1:59

"@Hobgoblin. I totally disagree with you categorization of what constitutes a GOAT ...but each to his own."

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"The longest year of my life," admits Hamilton

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