Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says he want to see Lewis Hamilton win at Ferrari if his personal group fails to win the title.
Hamilton’s 12-year profession with the Silver Arrows got here to an finish at Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as he surged from sixteenth to fourth in his last race for Mercedes. It got here to a profitable conclusion.
The 39-year-old introduced earlier than the beginning of the season that he would be a part of Ferrari in 2025, admitting he had “significantly underestimated” the problem of this yr.
Hamilton will likely be changed by Italian teenager Andrea Kimi Antonelli at Mercedes subsequent yr.
“If we do not win, we’ll cheer for him,” Wolfe mentioned.
“He deserves an eighth title however clearly the group, the motive force, the model are the primary precedence to win and we’ll do our greatest.”
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Lewis Hamilton displays on his last ‘hammer time’ with race engineer Bono on last lap of ultimate race with Mercedes
Hamilton overtook George Russell on the ultimate lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to present Mercedes six drivers’ titles and 78 pole positions in 84 races.
Wolff mentioned he would “attempt to preserve his relationship” with Hamilton, together with dinners and bike rides with F1’s most profitable ever driver.
“It has been 12 years. Not solely is that this the longest driver-team relationship within the historical past of the game, it is one of many longest relationships between any sports activities group and participant,” Wolff continued.
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Anthony Davidson analyzes Lewis Hamilton’s last overtake for Mercedes as he handed teammate George Russell on the ultimate lap in Abu Dhabi on SkyPad
“It is one of many longest private relationships you’ve gotten with an individual. Clearly, that creates attachment, belief, values which might be uncommon this present day. That is why we’re holding on to ours throughout this time. Coronary heart.
“This is without doubt one of the finest occasions I’ve ever skilled personally and as a group.”
Hamilton: The ultimate ‘hammer time’ was a vital second for me
Hamilton suffered nice misfortune on Saturday as he was eradicated from the race within the first spherical after knocking over a bollard and due to this fact began in sixteenth place.
He was the one driver to start out on the exhausting observe, so he had a protracted first leg, after which made a cost on the midfield late within the race to go Haas’s Nico Hulkenberg, Pierre Gasly of Alpine Racing and bravely overtook teammate Russell on the primary stage.
Hamilton’s engineer, Peter Bonnington, was well-known for his “It is time for Lewis’s shot” radio message to drivers as they battled for victory, signaling a giant push earlier than the pit stops. Bonington delivered the message for the final time in Abu Dhabi, making it a particular second for Hamilton.
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Martin Brundle joins Lewis Hamilton in his last race on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in his previous Mercedes.
“I believe when Bono mentioned it was ‘Hammer Time’ [during the pit stop phase]I undoubtedly observed it, and I used to be like, ‘That is the final time I’m going to listen to this.’ I used to be actually moved at that second,” Hamilton mentioned Sky Sports activities F1.
“It was a extremely, actually robust sport from the place I used to be – in fact I did not get off to such a very good begin right here” [Charles Leclerc]my new teammate.
“That first interval was actually, actually exhausting. I did not lose hope, I simply thought, ‘Oh, this is not going in addition to I believed.’
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Sky Sports activities relives Lewis Hamilton’s most fun moments for Mercedes forward of ultimate race in Abu Dhabi
“However I did not hand over, I simply stored pushing, like ‘come on, we are able to get there’ after which put totally different tires on and the automobile got here alive – however I nonetheless had a giant hole to shut, so I Simply concentrate on getting every little thing out of the automobile and never hand over.
“I hope to attain the best doable outcomes and provides each level I’ve to the group, similar to they’ve given me all these years.”
he added to F1 TV: “I will miss everybody. I can not inform you how a lot I will miss them. It is going to be an enormous quantity as a result of I have been working with them day-after-day for the previous 12 years. There’s a number of love on this group however there will not be any progress.
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