Lewis Hamilton opens up on underestimating 'difficulties' of final Mercedes season ahead of Abu Dhabi GP farewell

Lewis Hamilton admitted he "massively underestimated" what his final year at Mercedes would be like in the wake of announcing that he was joining Ferrari for 2025 and that he has not always handled his emotions in the best way.

Hamilton will race for the Silver Arrows for the 246th and final time at F1's season finale in Abu Dhabi this weekend, the final chapter in a team-driver relationship that has rewritten the sport's record books over the past 12 years.

But as the seven-time champion prepares to close a difficult season in which he is on course for his worst championship finish of seventh in F1, a reflective Hamilton opened up on the strains and emotions of the past 11 months since his bombshell Ferrari switch was made public in February.

• 'Nothing short of historic' - Lewis Hamilton's emotional message to Mercedes
• How McLaren or Ferrari can win Constructors' Championship
• LISTEN: Ted Kravitz's Podbook from Abu Dhabi
• When to watch season-ending Abu Dhabi GP on Sky Sports
• Get Sky Sports or stream F1 and more with NOW

"The first meeting with Toto [Wolff] at the beginning of the year was awkward, of course, so it was awkward from the get go," said Hamilton in Thursday's Drivers' Press Conference.

"The day after, when I took some of the team paintballing, and they had just found out. So there's been loads of moments through the year. I got shot at a lot by people, loads of bruises. People went in on me that day.

"I anticipated it would be difficult, but massively underestimated how difficult it would be. It was straining on the relationship very early on, it took time for people to get past it.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

"And then just from my own self, it's been a very emotional year for me, and I think I've not been at my best in handling and dealing with those emotions.

"So many of you have been here my whole career, so some of you, I think you've all seen the worst in me, and the best of me.

"And I'm not going to apologise for either because I'm only human, and I don't always get it right. And I would definitely say this year has been one of the worst in terms of handling that from my side, which I will work on trying to be better at."

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Hamilton though said that ultimately it would be the highs of their towering achievements together and the strength of relationships built at the team which ultimately will stand the test of time.

"I hope the good and the highs far outweigh the negatives, in how I've handled it, or behaved," he added.

Shop F1 gear!

Sign up and save 10% off your first purchase!

"And as I said, just remember the good times. I've built some incredible relationships.

"If you imagine when you're going through a season together with so many people, not only on those race weekends are you riding the highs and lows together, but in their personal lives, through marriages, through divorces, through loss of family members, through cancer, through all sorts - you're going through these journeys with these people.

"So, it's a really beautiful journey you go on together, and being there for so long, the emotions run so deep."

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Hamilton on how exit compares to his one at McLaren - and what he'll treasure most

Hamilton, who has won six of his seven world titles during his time at Mercedes, said the farewell process at his second team was more difficult than when he left his first, McLaren.

"It definitely wasn't as painful and difficult as this year has been in terms of the emotions.

"And I think because it was at the end of the year, it was much quicker and there wasn't enough time for it to really settle in for anyone, I think, within the team.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

"Yeah, this one is much more emotional because I've been with the team so long and we've been through so much together."

Asked what would be the abiding memory of his years at the Silver Arrows, Hamilton said: "I think it's the smiles, when we've had the success. I think it's those moments.

"Like I remember one particular engineer, for example, I remember our first win in Australia in 2014, I think it was Australia, and I just remember him being in tears when we were on the podium. It's those moments that I take with me.

"It's the emotions that we had in Silverstone this year. It's all the good bits. Naturally, you mostly remember the good bits. And I think it's just the... I'm just incredibly proud, but also just so grateful to every single individual, both that are here at the track, but also back at the factory that have just worked tirelessly and, you know, been supporting me for all these years from day one."

Sky Sports F1's live Abu Dhabi GP schedule

Friday December 6
5.45am: F1 Academy Practice
7am: F2 Practice
9am: Abu Dhabi GP Practice One (session starts at 9.30am)*
10.55am: F2 Qualifying
12.45pm: Abu Dhabi GP Practice Two (session starts at 1pm)*
2.30pm: F1 Academy Qualifying*
3.15pm: The F1 Show*

Saturday December 7
8.10am: F1 Academy Race One
10.15am: Abu Dhabi GP Practice Three (session starts at 10.30am)
12.10pm: F2 Sprint Race
1.15pm: Abu Dhabi GP Qualifying build-up
2pm: ABU DHABI GP QUALIFYING*
4pm: F1 Academy: Race Two
5pm: Ted's Qualifying Notebook

Sunday December 8
7.10am: F1 Academy Race Three
9.20am: F2 Feature Race
11.30am: Grand Prix Sunday: Abu Dhabi GP build-up
1pm: THE ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX
3pm: Chequered Flag: Abu Dhabi GP reaction
4pm: Ted's Notebook

*also live on Sky Sports Main Event

Watch the final race of the 2024 Formula 1 season - the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - live on Sky Sports F1, with Sunday's race at 1pm. Get Sky Sports F1 or stream with NOW