- Lewis Hamilton leaves Mercedes a seven-time Formula 1 World Champion.
- Hamilton and Mercedes have enjoyed some incredible moments over the last decade.
- They’ve also faced their fair share of challenges.
- IWC Schaffhausen has been blessed with an outstanding partnership with Lewis and the team
Lewis Hamilton’s final season with Mercedes may not be the fitting farewell for one of the most dominant partnerships in Formula 1 history. But as they say, all good things must come to an end. For Hamilton, that means leaving the team where he won six World Championships to seek red pastures new.
After more than a decade, Lewis Hamilton will no longer rock the iconic Mercedes racesuit, bringing to a close a chapter that redefined Formula 1.
From record-breaking highs to humbling lows, Hamilton’s journey with Mercedes has been nothing short of extraordinary. But as the curtain falls on this legendary era in sport, it’s worth revisiting the moments that defined Hamilton’s time with Mercedes – not just the eternal triumphs that cemented his greatness but the recent challenges that tested his resolve.
| BEST Moments | WORST Moments |
|---|---|
| The Entire 2018 Season | 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix |
| 2024 British Grand Prix | Losing to Teammate Nico Rosberg |
| 2021 Brazil Grand Prix | Zero Wins in 2022 |
| 2013 Hungarian Grand Prix | 2022 Imola Grand Prix |
| 2019 Monaco Grand Prix | The 2024 W15 Car |
BEST: The Entire 2018 Season
Lewis Hamilton’s 2018 campaign stands as one of the most commanding performances in history. Not just Formula 1, but in a single campaign by one athlete. Hamilton secured his fifth world title with 11 wins from 21 races, amassing an incredible 408 points across the season to clinch it with two races to go.
The German Grand Prix was a standout moment, with Hamilton fighting his way from 14th on the grid to claim a famous victory at the Hockenheimring. But it was his individual brilliance in Singapore that left a lasting impression, forever etched into the history books of Formula 1.
Related Stories
On a track where Mercedes had struggled historically delivered a qualifying lap at Marina Bay that is widely regarded as one of the finest ever seen in Formula 1. The entire weekend Mercedes looked slow. Ferrari had just delivered fresh upgrades to Vettel and Hamilton struggled to even get through Q1 and Q2. He was able to dig deep in his third qualifying session and pushed the car beyond its perceived limits to finish a whole 1.3 seconds faster than anyone else.
In his words, Hamilton called it “the most complete lap that I think I have ever done.”
WORST: 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
The 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix remains one of the most painful moments in Formula 1 history; one that, until today, I had managed to block out of recent memory.
Lewis Hamilton led almost the entire race and seemed set to claim his record-breaking eighth world championship, cementing his legacy as the most decorated driver in the history of the sport.
However, a late-race crash triggered a controversial safety car decision by Race Director Michael Masi that dramatically altered the outcome of the race, propelling Max Verstappen to the championship. On fresher tyres, the Dutch driver etched closer and closer to Hamilton leading to a contentious reset of lapped cars at the restart, overtaking Hamilton in a brutal one-lap shootout to claim his first WDC title.
The controversy surrounding this race was felt throughout the paddock, leading to sweeping regulatory changes in Formula 1 to prevent a similar debacle from happening again. The rules on safety car procedures were clarified, ensuring that “all” lapped cars must un-lap themselves before a race restart, and the safety car would only return to the pits one lap after this process was complete.
Michael Masi lost his job and the role of race director was also overhauled and was replaced by a rotational system of race directors supported by a virtual race control room. But at least Netflix got an epic season finale out of it.
BEST: 2024 British Grand Prix
The 2024 British Grand Prix offered a rare moment of joy in what has otherwise been a dismal season for Mercedes… but then again, Lewis Hamilton has made a career out of performing when it matters most.
In a year plagued by an underperforming car and a lack of competitive pace, Hamilton delivered a stellar driver in front of his home crowd that reminded everyone of his unwavering greatness. Hamilton was winless in 945 days; an unwanted streak that stretched as far back as the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, 56 races ago. It was a moment of unbridled catharsis for both Hamilton and his fans.
WORST: Losing to Teammate Nico Rosberg
Hamilton’s 2016 defeat to Nico Rosberg remains one of the few blemishes on his glittering Mercedes career. Despite winning 10 races that season, reliability issues and intense rivalry with his teammate ultimately cost him the championship by just five points.
The relationship between the two drivers was already tense as they both competed for the top seat at Mercedes, but it reached boiling point during incidents such as their infamous collision at the Spanish Grand Prix.
Hamilton allowed Rosberg to overtake him heading into Turn 1, but as the cars approached Turn 3, Rosberg moved to defend his position, when Hamilton, with more speed, attempted to pass on the inside. Hamilton ran onto the grass, lost control, and collided with Rosberg’s car, sending both into the gravel and out of the race.
Rosberg’s championship victory, though well-earned, was a bitter pill for Hamilton, who was determined not to lose his head in the same way again.
You’ll notice in today’s broadcasts, however, that the relationship between the pair has improved since the height of their fierce rivalry. Rosberg has enjoyed more time besides the track than on it in recent seasons; a staunch supporter of his former teammate as he races through the latter years of his Mercedes’ contract.
BEST: 2021 Brazil Grand Prix
Sent to the back of the grid for the sprint race due to a technical infringement, Hamilton was a man on a mission in São Paulo carving through the field to finish fifth ahead of the race.
On race day, he produced one of the greatest drives of his career, overtaking rival Max Verstappen in a dramatic on-track battle to take the win – his first for three races – and swing the pendulum back in his favour in the Championship. It remains one of the most celebrated performances of his career; a signature Lewis Hamilton masterclass.
The 2022 season marked the first time in Hamilton’s career that he failed to win a single race. After the events of Abu Dhabi, Hamilton even admitted that he wasn’t sure if he’d make it back to Mercedes for the new campaign, threatening to quit the sport altogether after the controversial end to 2021.
WORST: Zero Wins in 2022
It was clear that the team were still carrying the hangover of a heavy defeat into the new season and it certainly didn’t help that the car he was driving in 2022, the W13, was one of the worst in Hamilton’s career. It was clunky and plagued by porpoising issues which left Hamilton fighting just to stay competitive and keep up with his new rival Max Verstappen on the track.
While his teammate George Russell managed to secure a win in Brazil, Hamilton’s inability to stand on the top step of the podium was a jarring reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in Formula 1 – it was a truly humbling experience.
BEST: 2013 Hungarian Grand Prix
Battling against Red Bull and their dominant driver Sebastian Vettel, Hamilton showed why Mercedes had placed their faith in him to secure his first win for his new team Mercedes at the 2013 Hungarian Grand Prix – it turned out to be one of the most crucial moments in Hamilton’s entire career.
Hamilton’s move from McLaren to Mercedes was met with the inevitable criticism that follows drivers in this sport. Mercedes were yet to register a win all year and were seen as an underperforming team compared to the more established Red Bull and McLaren.
Hamilton defended from pole effectively, staving off assaults from the reigning champion to claim his first victory with his new team – but more than that, silence the critics who had been relishing in Mercedes’ lacklustre form.
WORST: 2022 Imola Grand Prix
The 2022 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was a low point in Hamilton’s career as the seven-time champion struggled with a car that was off the pace all weekend.
On a track where Hamilton had enjoyed some success throughout his career, the Mercedes driver was having a torrid time on his return to Italy, stuck behind Pierre Gasly for much of the race, unable to mount a challenge further up the grid. It went from bad to worse for Hamilton as Max Verstappen whizzed past him in the RB18 on his way to his second win of the season.
This race was a confronting realisation of the dramatic shift in competitive order. Mercedes and Hamilton were grappling with the new era of Formula 1 regulations and couldn’t shake off the handover of the 2021 season. It would be a long time before Hamilton would find the podium again, let alone win a race.
BEST: 2019 Monaco Grand Prix
The 2019 Monaco Grand Prix was classic Lewis Hamilton – pure grit and skill. Stuck on worn-out tyres after Mercedes gambled on strategy, Hamilton had to hold off a charging Max Verstappen for almost the entire race.
With the tight streets of Monte Carlo leaving no room for error, Hamilton kept Verstappen and the rest of the pack at bay, delivering a win that kept Mercedes’ perfect season alive. It wasn’t just a victory; it was one of those defining moments that showed why Hamilton is a legend of the sport.
WORST: The 2024 W15 Car
2024 hasn’t been kind to Hamilton. The W15 has been a total letdown, leaving him battling in the midfield instead of up front where he belongs. He’s called it the worst car he’s ever driven – and it’s hard to argue with him there.
Of course, 2024 will always be remembered for his iconic victory in Silverstone, returning to the lofty heights of the sport that he’s given so much. But one swallow doesn’t make a summer; it’s a sad ending to one of the sport’s most dominant partnerships in history. Whilst Hamilton will no doubt look back on this as a bittersweet chapter in an otherwise legendary career, he’ll never have to drive this car again.
