Mercedes unveils special Lewis Hamilton tribute ahead of his last race with the team
Mercedes unveiled the names of 150 lucky competition winners ahead of the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Free Practice on Friday. These names were added to the W-15 livery to pay tribute to Lewis Hamilton as he parts ways with the team at the end of this race.
As the seven-time world champion counts his time at the Brackley-based team, he is set to race one last time wearing the Mercedes overalls. To commemorate the occasion, Mercedes devised a special plan to pay tribute to their most successful F1 driver.
The German team arranged a competition where fans can send their name to be featured in Lewis Hamilton's W-15 during the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, his last race for the Silver Arrows. Only 150 names were chosen from the competition.
As Mercedes unveiled the names, they shared a post on their X (formerly Twitter) handle) on Friday, December 6, writing:
"Carrying the names of our 150 lucky competition winners with us this weekend. Thank you to every one of you that entered - the response was incredible."
Earlier this year, Hamilton agreed to sign a multi-million dollar contract with Ferrari. The multi-year deal will see him move to the Prancing Horse next season and replace Williams-bound Carlos Sainz. The 39-year-old will join Charles Leclerc, and his former boss from F2, Fred Vasseur.
Despite having a one-plus-one-year contract with Mercedes, Hamilton's decision to leave Brackley surprised many. However, there were many who welcomed the decision and labeled the move as the starting of a new chapter.
Lewis Hamilton will part ways with Mercedes after 12 long years. He claimed six of his seven titles with them and helped the Silver Arrows claim eight Constructors' Championships. Hamilton and Mercedes marked the union of the most successful F1 driver and team combination.
Lewis Hamilton on his Mercedes departure: "It's those moments that I take with me"
Ahead of the 2024 Abu Dhabi GP, Lewis Hamilton shared his thoughts about leaving Mercedes, a team with whom he raced for over a decade, and raked in nearly 90 Grand Prix victories. Here's what he said (via F1.com):
“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. 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 been supporting me for all these years from day one.”
Lewis Hamilton returned to winning ways in Silverstone this year with the 2024 British Grand Prix. He won another after George Russell was disqualified in Belgium during the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix. Hamilton is expected to finish his Mercedes journey in P7 of the Drivers' Championship.