Lewis Hamilton says present struggles do not outline his Mercedes journey forward of ultimate race earlier than Ferrari change | 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 group.

The seven-time world champion will drive in his ultimate 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 exterior the factors in twelfth after a tumultuous 57-lap race in Lusail through which he was hit with two sanctions by stewards – one for a leap 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 high 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 may retire his automotive, 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 automotive and I do not get alongside actually that nicely. However we have been very, very far off at first and we did not have sufficient wing in to start out with, the vehicles have been fairly completely 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 method to the weekend fairly than the consequence that’s necessary 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 consequence, then nice, however it would not actually make a giant distinction both manner. These final races do not have an effect on every little thing we have finished 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 a particularly sluggish cease noticed him emerge in 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 have been ruined, Russell was capable of recuperate to fourth after Sainz and Hamilton suffered punctures and Norris was penalised for failing to sluggish beneath 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 most likely a greater consequence 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