Lewis Hamilton revealed that he had underestimated the emotional challenges of his final season with Mercedes. Earlier this year, Hamilton announced that he would be leaving his team to join Ferrari, ending a 12-year partnership with Mercedes.

While the early announcement was intended to eliminate speculation and allow both parties to focus on performance, this season proved to be more emotionally challenging than anticipated. Reflecting ahead of his final race, Hamilton described the awkward conversation with team principal Toto Wolff about his decision to leave.

“I knew it would be difficult, but I massively underestimated just how hard it would be,” Hamilton admitted. “It put a strain on the relationship very early. It took time for people to process it. And for me personally, it’s been a very emotional year. I don’t think I handled those emotions as well as I could have.”

Hamilton confessed that the struggles this season sometimes brought out his worst. “Many of you have followed my career, and you’ve seen both the best and worst of me,” he said. “I’m not going to apologise for either—I’m only human, and I don’t always get it right. This year, though, has been one of my worst in terms of managing those emotions, and that’s something I’ll work on improving. But I hope the highs and successes overshadow the negatives and how I’ve dealt with things.”

Despite recent disappointments, Hamilton said he would leave Mercedes with gratitude and a focus on positive memories. “I’ll always remember the good times,” he said. “I’ve built incredible relationships over the years. When you spend so much time with a team, you experience everything together—highs and lows on the track, but also personal milestones, challenges, and losses. It’s a beautiful journey we’ve shared.”

Asked about his standout memory from 246 races with Mercedes, Hamilton pointed to the 2014 Bahrain Grand Prix victory. “It’s the smiles during our successes that stay with me,” he said. “I remember one engineer, Aldo Costa, in tears on the podium after that win. Those moments, like the emotions at Silverstone this year, are what I’ll cherish the most.”

As he now prepares for his final race with the team, Hamilton expressed deep pride and gratitude. “I’m incredibly proud and thankful to every individual who has supported me from day one, both at the track and back at the factory. Their tireless efforts and belief in me are what I’ll carry forward.”