The 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand will be the final appearance for Lewis Hamilton in Mercedes colors. The seven times Formula 1 champion had announced early this year that he would leave Mercedes, which he joined in 2013, after the 2024 season to make a move to Ferrari for the next season.
In 2025, the Brit will drive a car not powered by a Mercedes-Benz engine for the first time in his F1 career when he gets behind the wheel of a Ferrari.
The combination of Hamilton and Mercedes has achieved record-breaking success in its 18 years of partnership, with the ace racer winning six of his record-equalling seven World titles during the company’s’ historic streak of eight consecutive Constructors’ titles between 2014-21.
However, the iconic partnership which is approaching its end even as three rounds remain for Lewis Hamilton as a Mercedes driver before he makes his much awaited move to move to the Italian brand.
As per reports, Mercedes are plotting ways to give a befitting tribute to their ace driver and are still in the process of figuring out the details of how exactly they will honour the seven-time F1 champion in Abu Dhabi.
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Team Mercedes has now revealed one part of their plans.
Fans will be offered the chance to have their names put on Hamilton’s car for the final race of his Mercedes career. Enthusiastic fans can register and 150 names will be selected randomly before they are printed on Hamilton’s W15.
150 lucky fans to have their name on Mercedes W15 of Lewis Hamilton at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2024
The draw opened at 9am UK time on Thursday, November 14 and can be accessed on the Mercedes F1 team website. It will be open till Tuesday, November 26 at 23.59pm, so fans who want to take part will need to hurry.
Hamilton had earlier expressed his love for Mercedes, shortly after his Ferrari decision at pre-season testing in Bahrain.
Lewis Hamilton said, “There’s so much love within the team [Mercedes].”
“And I still, and always will, love this team. So… Everyone was incredibly understanding within the team and hugely supportive.
“But I’m really looking forward to that new challenge that, you know, it’s lots of different emotions that you would experience through that challenge.
“But it’s one I’m really excited about.”
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It appears that Lewis Hamilton will need to wait until 2025 to lay his hands on Ferrari wheel professionally, as the prospect of an early release to represent the Italian car maker in UAE post-F1 2024 season looks unlikely with promotional and farewell work for Hamilton and Mercedes already planned for the days following the Abu Dhabi finale.
