Mercedes-AMG Petronas star Lewis Hamilton is gearing up for his last season with the Silver Arrows in 2024, with a sensational move on the horizon as he is poised to join Scuderia Ferrari in 2025.
The 39-year-old's time with Mercedes has been highly successful, winning 82 races and six World Drivers' championships so far, with a chance to add to the tally in his final campaign with the team.
Nevertheless, there has been a downturn in Mercedes' performance over the past two seasons, with Hamilton failing to notch a victory in both the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
The current drought represents the longest winless streak of his career, with the 2022 season marking the first time he did not clinch a race throughout the year.
Lewis Hamilton's 5 Most Memorable Moments with Mercedes
- 2021 Brazilian Grand Prix Weekend
Amidst the 2021 title race drama, Hamilton faced a setback when he was disqualified in the qualifying session for the Brazilian Grand Prix.
This was due to his car's drag reduction system's opening slot exceeding the permitted 85 mm (3.3 in).
Starting the weekend's Sprint race from the last position, he showcased a sensational performance, overtaking 15 cars in the condensed race to finish in 5th place.
In the main race, he gained four positions and surpassed race leader Max Verstappen, ultimately securing the victory in what is considered one of the greatest performances of his career.
- 2018 Italian Grand Prix
In the intense 2018 title battle against Sebastian Vettel, the two Ferraris secured the front row for their home race at Monza.
In the opening lap, Hamilton, positioned third, seized an opportunity and successfully overtook Vettel to claim second place, with the latter spinning off the track.
He then pursued Kimi Räikkönen for the rest of the race, making brilliant strategy calls to surpass him in lap 44 and secure victory ultimately.
- 2018 Singapore Grand Prix qualifying lap
Considered by some to be the most exceptional qualifying lap in history, the British driver displayed unparalleled precision on the narrow street circuit of Singapore.
Contrary to expectations, he clinched the pole position by three-tenths, demonstrating extraordinary speed in every tight corner and skillfully utilizing the limited space available without making contact with the barriers.
Title rivals Vettel and Ferrari were left similarly stunned, and this was a pivotal moment that dented the Prancing Horse's hopes.
- 2019 Monaco Grand Prix
In the aftermath of legend Niki Lauda's passing, a pivotal figure in persuading Hamilton to join the Silver Arrows, emotions ran high at Monaco.
Hamilton, who had secured pole position, led from the start, and everything seemed fine until a safety car period unfolded on lap 11 out of 78.
During this interruption, Mercedes decided to equip Hamilton's car with medium tires, while Red Bull and Ferrari opted for hards for Max Verstappen and Vettel, respectively.
Throughout the remainder of the race, the relentless and aggressive Verstappen stayed on Hamilton's tail, benefitting from his longer-lasting tires. However, Hamilton skillfully adjusted his position for the rest of the race every time the Red Bull closed in, enabling the Mercedes to retain its lead and claim the win.
- 2020 Turkish Grand Prix
On the day when he clinched his seventh title, things weren't initially looking good for Hamilton. Qualifying in sixth position, the W11 car struggled on the wet track in the rain, with teammate Valtteri Bottas also qualifying in a lower position at 9th.
Despite this setback, Hamilton maintained composure, showcasing his maturity by allowing the race to unfold.
Demonstrating his prowess on intermediate tires plus sensational strategy calls, Hamilton ultimately emerged victorious with a substantial lead of 31.6 seconds, marking the third-largest margin in his Formula 1 career en route to the title.
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