Lewis Hamilton is heading into his 12th and final season with Mercedes ahead of next year’s move to Ferrari.
Lewis Hamilton has described his return to the Mercedes factory as “emotional” and “surreal” after agreeing a shock move to rivals Ferrari for the 2025 season.
The seven-time world champion will be looking to end a two-year winless streak when the 2024 F1 season gets underway in Bahrain later this month, although his ability to do so will largely depend on the machinery provided by his Mercedes team.
Since their legendary title fight in 2021, the Silver Arrows have struggled to hold a candle to rivals Red Bull in terms of performance with Christian Horner’s outfit nailing the regulations at the start of the ground effect era.
After winning just one race in 2022, the eight-time world champions failed to win a single Grand Prix last year with both Hamilton and team-mate George Russell frustrated by the unpredictable nature of the W14.
Speaking about his feelings at the launch of Mercedes’ 2024 car, Hamilton said: “Yeah well it’s obviously been emotional. It’s very surreal to be here given I came here in 2013, so 11 years with the team, starting my 12th and it is such a privilege to work with a group of people where you see the work they’re doing over winte
We go through this process over the last couple of years, you see a car come together at the beginning of the year – it’s the most exciting part of the season, really.”
In the W15, Mercedes’ new car represents a departure from the design philosophy of the previous two cars with technical director James Allison and team principal Wolff in agreement that a drastic change in approach was necessary if there was to be any hope of closing the gap to Red Bull before the current regulation period ends in 2025.
However, Wolff is realistic in his targets for the upcoming campaign. “Our aim is to consolidate our positions towards Ferrari and McLaren and sometimes Aston Martin and be at the forward part of that group,” he explained after unveiling the W15.
“This is our aim,” he later added. “We are determined to do so, and at the same time we know how difficult it is because you are a step behind your main competitor who has gotten it right straight from the get-go, but we love the challenge and this is why I’m so eager, and all of us are so eager to see the car finally driving.”
