LEWIS HAMILTON has spoken about his decision to leave Mercedes after unveiling the team’s challenger for the 2024 season.
Hamilton stunned F1 to announce that he was quitting Mercedes after 11 years to join Ferrari in 2025.
He broke the shock news to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff over breakfast at the Austrian’s home in Oxford last month.
Hamilton, 39, will now see out his contract with Mercedes and says he is still committed to helping them get back onto the top step of the podium.
Speaking at Silverstone ahead of the team’s shakedown with teammate George Russell, Hamilton said: ‘It’s obviously been emotional.
“It’s very surreal to be here. I came here in 2013, 11 years with the team, this is the start of my 12th.
“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 is such a privilege to work with people to see the work they’re doing over the winter.
“This is the most exciting part of the year. To know everything underneath the hood, that George and I will be able to experience on the track. It’s exciting.”
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Mercedes unveiled their challenger for 2024 on Wednesday, with Wolff admitting they “have a mountain to climb”.
Hamilton and Russell took part in a special filming day to give the W15 car its first on-track test run at Silverstone.
It comes after the team won just one race in the previous two years, as Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has dominated the sport.
After designing two dud cars, Wolff is now hopeful that their latest creation will deliver them back to the top step of the podium.
He said: “We know we have a mountain to climb to fight at the very front. There are no miracles in this sport.
“But our ambition and determination are strong. Since charting this new course, development has progressed well.
“We had several items on our priority list for this car. We will soon see if we’ve made the step we’ve aimed for.
“As the saying goes: when it stings, it sticks. I believe the previous two years were necessary for us to readjust, recalibrate and reinvent ourselves in certain areas.
“That root-and-branch approach is never easy. But we’ve made progress and look forward to taking the next step with the W15. It won’t be a linear path, but when we stumble, we will get back up and keep climbing.”
The season kicks off in Bahrain in two-week’s time in what will be Hamilton’s last before he jumps ship to Ferrari.
Unlike their rivals who made their drivers all readily available, Mercedes opted for a digital-only launch, meaning Wolff and their drivers were unavailable for questions.
Consequently, their focus was only on the team’s recovery and ambitions for this season.
In an otherwise drab press release, Hamilton is quoted as saying: “The learnings of the past two years have helped us find our direction.
“It has enabled us to find our north star. It’s still going to be a work in progress, but we will face whatever challenges present themselves with our heads up, with open minds, and work through diligently.”
Russell is quoted saying: “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.”
