The launch of Lewis Hamilton’s final Mercedes car marks the end of an era for the legendary driver, who will be moving to Ferrari in 2025 after a highly successful tenure with Mercedes since 2013. Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, hopes to conclude his time with Mercedes on a high note as he aims to close the gap to Max Verstappen and Red Bull.
Hamilton expressed mixed emotions at the launch, acknowledging the privilege of working with the team for over a decade while emphasizing the challenges they’ve faced in recent years. He and his teammate George Russell are eager to experience the improvements made to the car during the winter training.
Mercedes, led by team principal Toto Wolff, are determined to provide Hamilton with a competitive car for his final season with the team. They acknowledge the mistakes made in the past two years and are focused on regaining their competitive edge, aiming to challenge Red Bull and consolidate their position among the top teams in Formula 1.
Technical director James Allison highlighted the team’s efforts to address the issues with the previous car, particularly improving the rear axle to provide a more stable and predictable driving experience for the drivers.
The launch comes ahead of initial testing at Silverstone, where Mercedes and McLaren, among others, will begin evaluating their new cars ahead of the upcoming season. McLaren, buoyed by improvements in the second half of the previous season, will be aiming for further success with drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
Meanwhile, Ferrari has also launched their new car, which will be driven by Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, setting the stage for an exciting and competitive 2024 Formula 1 season.
