14 February 2024 , 12:05
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Lewis Hamilton says it feels “surreal” to be taking part in the final car launch of his Mercedes career - with the seven-time world champion reflecting on an "emotional" period that has seen him decide to join Ferrari.
Hamilton signed a two-year contract extension with Mercedes only last August, but over the winter he stunned the sporting world after he elected to end his deal 12 months early and join the Scuderia outfit. Much of the pre-season talk has been about Hamilton's blockbuster move but the 39-year-old insists his focus is on what he can achieve with the Silver Arrows this season.
Speaking publicly for the first time since his blockbuster move to Ferrari for 2025 was confirmed, Hamilton said: “(The last few weeks) have obviously been emotional and it is very surreal to be here. The focus through the whole of winter training is getting the team back to where we once were. We have had these difficult couple of years which have been really grounding for us. It has helped us regroup and really look at things.”
Hamilton, who joined Mercedes from McLaren in 2013, won six of his record-equalling seven world championships with the Silver Arrows. The Brit, who fielded just three questions from the Mercedes moderator during a brief nine-minute launch, added: “I came here in 2013 so 11 years with the team and now I am starting my 12th.
“It is such a privilege to work with a group of people where you see the work they do over the winter and you see a car come together at the beginning of the year and it is the most exciting part of the season. We have to be diligent, maximise practice and even one lap, George and I might get in the rain today will give us a feeling of what is to come.”
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Team principal Toto Wolff, standing alongside his soon-to-be departing star driver, added: “It has been a very busy winter. It will be our last season with Lewis so we are keen on bringing a quick car.”
Mercedes launched their new 2024 F1 car on Wednesday (MERCEDES/AFP via Getty Images)Hamilton, without a win in two years, and team-mate George Russell, will get their first taste of this season’s Mercedes during a shakedown test at a wet Silverstone on Wednesday. Russell, meanwhile, is confident heading into the new season.
He said: "We've learnt and grown as a team over the past two seasons. It's not been plain sailing, but I truly believe the journey we've been on will make us stronger in the long run. The whole team has been working incredibly hard and we hope to have made a step with the W15.
"We made progress with some of the nastier characteristics of the W14 throughout last year. But we still had a narrow operating window and, once we were outside of that, the car was difficult to drive. If we can continue to widen the operating window of the car, that will provide confidence for us as a drivers and from there, lap time is easier to find."