Lewis Hamilton says present struggles do not outline his Mercedes journey forward of ultimate race earlier than Ferrari swap | F1 Information

Lewis Hamilton says the disappointing kind on which he’s ending his Mercedes profession would not “define the journey” he has been on throughout his 12 seasons with the workforce.

The seven-time world champion will drive in his remaining race for Mercedes at subsequent weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix forward of leaving the Silver Arrows to hitch Ferrari subsequent season.

Hamilton’s penultimate outing for the Silver Arrows noticed him end outdoors the factors in twelfth after a tumultuous 57-lap race in Lusail during which he was hit with two sanctions by stewards – one for a soar begin after which a second for rushing within the pit lane later within the race – and suffered a puncture.

“Even if it finishes like this weekend, I don’t think that defines the journey we have been on and the journey we have had but I will give it everything I can,” Hamilton informed Sky Sports activities F1.

Hamilton has struggled badly in qualifying lately, failing to make the highest 5 at every of the final 5 races and twice not even that includes within the prime 10.

His Sundays have typically been far superior however on this event the errors spilled over. After being informed of his drive-through penalty for pit-lane rushing, Hamilton requested Mercedes if he might retire his automobile, a request that was declined.

“It just didn’t really go that great, but these things happen,” Hamilton added.

“Don’t judge me by how many times I fall but I’m going to get up tomorrow and give it another go.

“The automobile and I do not get alongside actually that properly. However we had been very, very far off at first and we did not have sufficient wing in to begin with, the vehicles had been fairly totally different and it wasn’t actually nice to drive.

“But, my fault today so apologises to the team for the false start and then the pit-lane incident.”

Hamilton admitted that he would not have excessive hopes of a dramatic upturn in kind in Abu Dhabi, however insisted that it’s the strategy to the weekend somewhat than the outcome that’s essential to him.

“I mean I don’t think we’re going to end up on a high,” he informed the written media in Qatar.

“It’ll end and I think what’s important is how we turn up, we give it our best shot. I don’t anticipate particularly much better weekend than we’ve had in the past weekends but naturally I’ll try.

“Go in with low hopes and are available out with a greater outcome, then nice, however it would not actually make an enormous distinction both means. These final races do not have an effect on all the pieces we have performed collectively.”

Russell: Mercedes’ tempo completely disappeared

Hamilton’s team-mate George Russell was unable to capitalise on his pole place as he was muscled out on the first nook by winner Max Verstappen, after which Lando Norris.

Working in third, Russell was the primary of the front-runners to pit however an especially gradual cease noticed him emerge in site visitors and lose monitor place to McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, each Ferraris and Hamilton.

Whereas his hopes of repeating final week’s victory in Las Vegas had been ruined, Russell was in a position to get well to fourth after Sainz and Hamilton suffered punctures and Norris was penalised for failing to gradual underneath yellow flags.

“After the pit stop I couldn’t get back through Fernando (Alonso). I was doing the same pace as (Sauber’s) Zhou Guanyu,” Russell informed Sky Sports activities F1.

“The speed we had on Friday and Saturday totally disappeared for both Lewis and I, so we need to understand why that was.

“P4 was in all probability a greater outcome than we deserved.”

Watch the final race of the 2024 Formula 1 season – the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – live this coming week on Sky Sports F1, with Sunday’s race at 1pm. Get Sky Sports activities F1 or stream with NOW