Hamilton thinks positive as end of Mercedes era nears

Lewis Hamilton overcomes disappointment, vows to give his best for Mercedes before joining Ferrari in final races.

Lewis Hamilton on Wednesday (November 21, 2024) said he had shrugged off deep disappointment after the Sao Paulo Grand Prix and pledged to give his all for Mercedes in his final three races before joining Ferrari.

The seven-time world champion admitted he had felt like “not coming back” in a radio reaction at the end of the race in Brazil, where he finished 10th, but had recovered and now wanted to give his best for “a team I love”.

Speaking to reporters ahead of this weekend's Las Vegas Grand Prix, the first of a triple-header on successive weekends, he was asked about a team radio exchange in which he suggested he was ready to walk away.

In the radio transmission, he said, “that was a disaster of a weekend, guys, the worst the car has ever been. Thank you for contributing to try and great job to all the guys at the pit-stop.

“If this is the last time I get to perform, it was a shame it wasn’t great, but (I am) grateful for you,” he said.

Hamilton, 39, will end a hugely successful 12-year spell with Mercedes after the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix next month (December).

“In the moment, that’s how I felt, like I didn’t really want to come back after that weekend,” he explained.