Lewis Hamilton quit worries, Red Bull controversy and childhood dream after British GP win

Lewis Hamilton will leave Mercedes at the end of the 2024 F1 season and join Ferrari – but the British driver has been in the headlines for several reasons over the years

Lewis Hamilton was visibly moved as he stood on the podium this Sunday, having clinched his ninth British Grand Prix win – a record-breaking achievement at Silverstone.

Gazing out at the sea of 140,000 fans, it’s possible that Hamilton was reflecting on his remarkable 17-year stint and contemplating when to call time on his racing days. In a bombshell for F1 enthusiasts everywhere, the British icon is set to leave Mercedes at season’s end for a sensational switch to Ferrari.

Hamilton has hailed his “absolutely incredible journey” with Mercedes but believes that donning Ferrari’s scarlet gear is the right step forward now. Hamilton’s career hasn’t been without its share of drama, including a headline-dominating World Championship tussle with Max Verstappen in 2021.

Here we take a look back at some of the most newsworthy moments from Hamilton’s recent career and explore the looming question: is retirement on the horizon for this F1 legend?

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The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ended in controversial fashion in 2021 ( Image: Lars Baron/Getty Images)

Reflecting on the contentious Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Hamilton expressed feeling “robbed” of what would have been a historic eighth World Championship title, as Max Verstappen overtook him in the final moments to claim his maiden championship.

The 2021 race saw FIA race director Michael Masi make a controversial call to restart the race on the last lap, a decision that went against the F1 rulebook.

During the dramatic final lap that saw Verstappen snatch the title from Hamilton, the Mercedes team was left in disbelief by the call. Despite their protests against Michael Masi’s decisions during the race, their efforts were futile – and they eventually withdrew any plans to appeal to the FIA’s Court of Appeal.

Masi found himself out of a job in the aftermath, with an FIA report later acknowledging “human error” played a part in the contentious race where Hamilton saw his title slip away.

Hamilton has rarely discussed the contentious Grand Prix but did concede to GQ Magazine that he felt “robbed” of the championship, stating: “Was I robbed? Obviously. I mean, you know the story.”

The seven-time world champion had previously commended his own post-race conduct, despite having accused the race of being “manipulated” over the team radio. Reflecting on the impact of the event, Hamilton remarked: “This is the defining moment of my life. And I think it really was. I felt it. I didn’t know how it was going to be perceived. I hadn’t, like, visualised it. But I was definitely conscious of: these next 50 metres that I walk is where I fall to the ground and die — or I rise up.”

Despite the crushing blow, Hamilton has since expressed that he is “at peace” with the outcome, though the sting of losing the championship in such a contentious manner still lingers.

Hamilton’s contemplation of retirement and moments of ‘self-doubt’

Hamilton has contemplating quitting the sport previously ( Image: Mario Renzi – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)

After narrowly missing out on the world title in 2021, Hamilton opened up to AutoSport about grappling with self-doubt and contemplating retirement. When asked about his thoughts on hanging up the helmet, he confessed: “For sure, yeah. There was so much going through my mind during that period in time.”

Despite these thoughts, Hamilton was keen to avoid a knee-jerk reaction, stressing the importance of a level head when making such significant life choices. He elaborated: “But I think one of the worst things you can do is make decisions based on emotions, because when you are emotional and in the heat of that moment, more often than not, you’re not going to make the best decisions.

“Emotions were high, it was a really, really difficult period of time, so I had to just wait until things calmed down, and that I was clear in my thought and I was able to then make the right decisions.”

While the F1 ace hasn’t dropped any hints about hanging up his helmet, there’s a buzz among fans that he might end his illustrious career with a stint at Ferrari come 2025.

Criticism of Mercedes and shock move to Ferrari

Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton have worked together for years

In a surprising turn, despite usually singing praises for his Mercedes squad and their loyal fanbase, Hamilton has previously voiced frustration over feeling unheard by his team regarding car development, as reported by The Guardian. Hamilton aired his grievances, saying he felt he wasn’t “listened to” by Mercedes in those critical conversations.

Speaking on the BBC’s Chequered Flag podcast, Hamilton reflected on the challenges he faced with his team in 2023: “Last year, there were things I told them. I said the issues that are with the car. I’ve driven so many cars in my life. I know what a car needs. I know what a car doesn’t need. I think it’s really about accountability. It’s about owning up and saying, ‘Yeah, you know what? We didn’t listen to you. It’s not where it needs to be and we’ve got to work.'”

After a dry spell following his 2021 title loss, Hamilton hadn’t seen the winner’s podium for two and a half years due to persistent issues with the car. When probed about Mercedes’s downturn after the Miami Grand Prix, Hamilton admitted: “It’s been tough. Of course, we exist to win and when you’re not winning, your perspective has to shift.”

He continued: “It’s just been about chasing and it’s about improvement. It’s about coming together. How can we make improvements? How can we get back to where we want to be and rallying? I actually really enjoyed that experience. But three years in now, we’re like, okay, I’ve had enough of this, let’s get back to where we belong.”

In a move that left fans and pundits alike stunned, Hamilton announced his departure from Mercedes to join Ferrari at the end of the 2024 season.

Discussing the unexpected switch, Hamilton revealed: “In the summer we signed, and obviously I, at that time, saw my future with Mercedes. But an opportunity came up in the new year and I decided to take it. I feel like… it was obviously the hardest decision that I think I’ve ever had to make.”

“Obviously I’ve been with Mercedes for, I think it’s like 26 years they’ve supported me, and we’ve had an absolutely incredible journey together. We’ve created history within the sport, and it’s something I take a lot of pride in and I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved. But I think ultimately I’m writing my story and I felt like it was time to start a new chapter.”

Hamilton confessed that his lifelong ambition is to drive for Ferrari, and he will achieve this next year. Mercedes’ vehicle, despite growing at a much faster pace than Ferrari’s this season, appears alongside McLaren and Red Bull as one of the best currently on the grid.

As the season kicked off, there was a widespread belief that Ferrari’s car was on par with Red Bull but the tide seems to have shifted, making some speculate whether Hamilton might be having second thoughts now.

Record ninth British Grand Prix crown

Hamilton broke records with his F1 win on Sunday ( Image: Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)DON’T MISS

Hamilton bagged a remarkable ninth win at the Silverstone race route, surpassing Michael Schumacher and his personal record of eight wins at a single track. Hamilton’s victory at the Grand Prix in Silverstone also marked his first tally since Saudi Arabia around two and a half seasons back in 2021.

Lewis Hamilton admitted there were times in his career when he “didn’t feel good enough” as he reflected on his emotional reaction to winning the Canadian Grand Prix. Speaking about his dedication, he said: “It’s so tough, I think for anyone. I think the important thing is just how you continue to get up, and you’ve got to continue to dig deep even when you feel like you’re at the bottom of the barrel.”

The seven-time world champion said: “There have definitely been days between 2021 and here where I didn’t feel like I was good enough, or whether I was going to get back to where I am today, but the important thing is I had great people around me, continuing to support me. My team, every time I turn up and see them putting in the effort, that really encouraged me to do the same thing.”

Hamilton, who is now just one point behind teammate George Russell in the driver standings, added: “Otherwise, my fans when I see them around the world, they have been so supportive. A big, big thank you to everybody back at the factory, everyone here, I love you guys.”