The collaboration between Lewis Hamilton And Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team stands as a monumental chapter in the annals of motorsport. This iconic partnership, commencing in 2013, redefined Formula 1 dominance, etching itself into history as the most successful driver-team alliance the sport has ever witnessed. However, as the 2024 season concludes, an era draws to a close. Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, is set to embark on a new journey, trading the Silver Arrows for the scarlet red of Ferrari in 2025. This transition marks not just a change of teams, but the end of a decade-long dynasty built on speed, precision, and relentless pursuit of victory.
Image alt text: Lewis Hamilton alongside the Mercedes F1 team in Abu Dhabi, 2024, during pre-season previews, highlighting his final season with the team.
The Hamilton-Mercedes partnership amassed an unprecedented collection of accolades: six Formula 1 Drivers’ Championships clinched by Hamilton, eight consecutive Constructors’ Championships for Mercedes, 78 pole positions, an astounding 153 podium finishes, and 84 race victories – a record unmatched for any driver with a single team. These staggering statistics underscore the sheer scale of their achievement and the profound impact they have had on Formula 1. As Hamilton prepares for his Ferrari chapter, it’s time to reflect on the journey, the triumphs, and the legacy forged between Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes.
The Calculated Risk: Hamilton’s Move to Mercedes
In September 2012, the Formula 1 world was taken aback by the announcement that Lewis Hamilton would be leaving McLaren to join Mercedes for the 2013 season. At the time, McLaren was perceived as the more competitive team, a consistent contender for race wins and championships. Hamilton himself had tasted world championship success with McLaren in 2008 and was a proven race winner. Mercedes, on the other hand, was in a rebuilding phase, struggling to recapture the glory of its historical past. In 2012, while Hamilton secured multiple victories for McLaren, Mercedes endured a barren spell, their sole win that season being Nico Rosberg’s breakthrough victory in China – a momentous occasion as it was Mercedes’ first win since 1955, the year they last secured a drivers’ title with the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio.
Many questioned Hamilton’s decision. Leaving a race-winning team for one seemingly adrift in the midfield appeared, to many, a step backwards. The risk was palpable. Would Hamilton be sacrificing his prime years, potentially diminishing his chances of adding to his championship tally? Yet, beneath the surface, Hamilton saw something others didn’t – the latent potential within Mercedes. He recognized the team’s ambition, their resources, and their unwavering commitment to returning to the pinnacle of Formula 1. This wasn’t just a move; it was a calculated gamble, a leap of faith into the unknown, driven by Hamilton’s instinct and belief in the Silver Arrows project.
“I knew that if I didn’t make the move though, I would have regretted it,” Hamilton reflected a decade later, emphasizing the conviction behind his choice. Despite the external doubts and the inherent uncertainty of the decision, Hamilton remained resolute. He trusted his intuition, betting on Mercedes’ long-term vision and his own ability to contribute to their resurgence. That Christmas, as he contemplated his decision amidst snowy mountains, a fleeting moment of doubt surfaced – “Shoot! I hope I’ve made the right decision.” History, however, would emphatically validate his choice. Mercedes was on the cusp of an era of unprecedented dominance, while McLaren, ironically, would soon embark on a period of decline, highlighting the foresight behind Hamilton’s seemingly risky career move.
Laying the Foundation: 2013 – The First Steps
The 2013 Formula 1 season, the final year of the 2.4-liter V8 engine formula, served as a crucial transitional period for Mercedes and the nascent Hamilton-Mercedes partnership. While not yet championship contenders, the Silver Arrows began to demonstrate tangible progress. The car showed flashes of speed, particularly in qualifying, with Mercedes securing pole position in eight out of nine races between China and Belgium. However, converting this raw pace into consistent race wins proved to be a challenge. Tire degradation emerged as a significant hurdle, preventing them from fully capitalizing on their qualifying prowess.
Nevertheless, victories did come. Nico Rosberg led the charge, securing Mercedes’ first win of the season in Monaco, a symbolic victory on the streets of Monte Carlo. He followed this up with another triumph at Silverstone, the team’s home race, further solidifying Mercedes’ upward trajectory. Then, at the tenth round of the season in Hungary, Lewis Hamilton achieved his first victory in Silver Arrows colours.
Image alt text: Lewis Hamilton celebrates his victory at the 2013 Hungarian Grand Prix with Mercedes team members, marking his first win for the team and highlighting the early success of the partnership.
Hamilton’s victory in Hungary was a masterclass in race management. Starting from pole position, he controlled the race pace, expertly managing his tires and executing decisive overtakes on seasoned competitors like Jenson Button and Mark Webber. He crossed the finish line a comfortable 10.938 seconds ahead of Kimi Räikkönen, showcasing the growing synergy between Hamilton and the Mercedes team. This win also marked a unique achievement for Mercedes that season – they became the only team to secure victories with both their drivers, a testament to the improving overall performance and driver lineup.
Throughout the 2013 season, both Hamilton and Rosberg consistently delivered podium finishes and top-five results. This consistent point-scoring performance significantly boosted Mercedes’ points tally, more than doubling their previous year’s score and propelling them to second place in the Constructors’ Championship, behind the dominant Red Bull Racing. For Lewis Hamilton, his debut season with Mercedes was far from a disappointment. He secured a victory, adapted to a new team environment, and finished the season in fourth place in the drivers’ standings, ahead of both his teammate Rosberg and the experienced Räikkönen. Crucially, this first season laid the groundwork for future success, providing Hamilton with valuable insights and influence as Mercedes geared up for the dawn of a new era in 2014.
The Silver Arrows Ascend: The Dominant Era Begins (2014-2016)
The 2014 Formula 1 season ushered in a seismic shift in the sport – the introduction of the 1.6-liter turbocharged V6 hybrid power units. This regulation change proved to be the catalyst for Mercedes’ transformation into an unstoppable force. Their engineers had masterfully developed a power unit that was not only immensely powerful but also remarkably efficient, giving them a significant advantage over their rivals. The season quickly evolved into an intense intra-team battle between Hamilton and Rosberg, with only Red Bull, through Daniel Ricciardo, managing to snatch a few victories away from the dominant Silver Arrows.
The season opener in Australia set the tone. Rosberg capitalized on Mercedes’ superior pace to take the victory, establishing an early lead in the championship. Hamilton, unfortunately, suffered an early retirement, putting him on the back foot. However, Hamilton responded emphatically in the following race in Malaysia, achieving a dominant Grand Chelem – pole position, fastest lap, and race win, leading every lap of the race and finishing a commanding 17 seconds ahead of Rosberg. This victory ignited a streak of momentum for Hamilton, who went on to win the next three races, seizing the championship lead for the first time in the season.
Rosberg, however, was not to be outdone. He fought back, securing pole position in Monaco amidst controversy and converting it into a victory, regaining the championship lead. He extended his advantage with a second-place finish in Canada, while Hamilton encountered brake issues and retired again. Rosberg then triumphed in Austria, followed by Hamilton’s emotional home win at Silverstone and Rosberg’s victory on home soil in Germany. After a couple of podiums and a retirement for Hamilton in Belgium, the British driver unleashed a relentless charge, winning five consecutive races.
The championship showdown culminated in Abu Dhabi. Hamilton entered the race with a points advantage and delivered a composed performance, securing victory and clinching his second world championship and his first with Mercedes. Rosberg finished second, completing a Mercedes 1-2 in the drivers’ standings.
Image alt text: Lewis Hamilton and the Mercedes team celebrate his 2014 World Championship victory in Abu Dhabi, highlighting the first championship win in the dominant Mercedes era.
Their dominant performance also secured Mercedes’ first-ever Constructors’ Championship title, a staggering 296 points ahead of Red Bull. Hamilton’s 11 wins out of 19 races placed him amongst the all-time greats for single-season victories, with a win percentage of 57.89%. Mercedes’ overall dominance was further underscored by their 16 wins out of 19 races, achieving an 84.21% win percentage – a feat they would replicate the following year.
In 2015, the Mercedes juggernaut continued its relentless march. Hamilton secured his third world championship and his second consecutive title with Mercedes, wrapping up the championship with three races to spare and finishing 59 points ahead of Rosberg. His ten race wins, combined with Rosberg’s six, propelled Mercedes to their second consecutive Constructors’ Championship, clinched in Russia with several races remaining. Mercedes amassed a total of 703 points, the fifth-highest points tally for a Constructors’ Championship in a single season, solidifying their reign at the top of Formula 1. Despite the apparent dominance, the 2015 season wasn’t without its challenges for Hamilton. He faced a resurgent Rosberg in the latter part of the season, with the German driver winning the final three races, hinting at a potentially closer battle in 2016.
The 2016 season witnessed the peak of the Hamilton-Rosberg rivalry. The championship battle went down to the wire, with Rosberg ultimately prevailing by a mere five points. Despite Hamilton securing more race wins (10 to Rosberg’s 9), Rosberg’s consistent podium finishes throughout the season proved decisive. Immediately after clinching his first and only world title, Rosberg made the shock announcement of his retirement from Formula 1, leaving a vacant seat at Mercedes and ending one of the most intense teammate rivalries in recent F1 history. Mercedes, despite losing the drivers’ title battle by a hair’s breadth, once again dominated the Constructors’ Championship, accumulating an impressive 765 points, the second-highest score in history at that point.
Continued Supremacy and Hamilton’s Ascent to Legend (2017-2020)
With Rosberg’s retirement, Valtteri Bottas joined Mercedes as Hamilton’s new teammate for the 2017 season. However, a new challenger emerged in the form of Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel. The 2017 season saw a significant regulation change, introducing wider cars and tires, making the cars heavier and more aerodynamically sophisticated. This shift played into Ferrari’s hands, allowing them to close the performance gap to Mercedes and mount a serious championship challenge. For the first half of the season, Bottas also proved to be a capable competitor, keeping Hamilton under pressure.
However, Hamilton, in his characteristic style, rose to the occasion. He engaged in a season-long duel with Vettel, showcasing his exceptional racecraft and strategic brilliance. Despite Ferrari’s improved competitiveness, Hamilton consistently extracted the maximum from his Mercedes, minimizing mistakes and capitalizing on opportunities. He ultimately secured his fourth world championship, and third with Mercedes, finishing 46 points ahead of Vettel and 58 points ahead of Bottas. Hamilton’s 2017 season was also marked by personal milestones. He surpassed Michael Schumacher’s all-time record for pole positions and increased his career win tally to 62, further cementing his status as one of the sport’s all-time greats. Mercedes, spearheaded by Hamilton’s exceptional performance, clinched their fourth consecutive Constructors’ Championship, finishing 146 points ahead of Ferrari.
Image alt text: Lewis Hamilton celebrates winning his fourth Formula 1 World Championship at the 2017 Mexican Grand Prix, marking another milestone in his and Mercedes’ continued dominance.
The 2018 season presented perhaps the most intense challenge to Hamilton’s dominance during this era. Vettel and Ferrari emerged even stronger, posing a formidable threat from the outset. Vettel started strongly, winning the first two races and establishing an early championship lead. Hamilton, however, responded with resilience and consistency. After a relatively slow start, with only three wins in the first ten rounds, Hamilton unleashed a phenomenal second half of the season. He won six out of the final nine races, including a string of dominant victories, matching his personal best of 11 wins in a single season from 2014. A standout moment was his victory at the German Grand Prix, starting from 14th on the grid, a testament to his exceptional driving skill and Mercedes’ strategic prowess. Hamilton capped off the season with a dominant win in Abu Dhabi, becoming the first F1 driver to surpass 400 points in a season, finishing with a staggering 408 points and securing his fifth world championship, 88 points ahead of Vettel. Mercedes also secured their fifth consecutive Constructors’ Championship, despite Bottas enduring a winless season.
In 2019, the Hamilton-Mercedes partnership continued its relentless march to success. Hamilton secured his sixth world championship, becoming only the second driver in history, after Michael Schumacher, to achieve this feat. He won 11 out of 21 races, demonstrating remarkable consistency and race-winning pace. He also became the only driver to finish every race in the points, highlighting his exceptional reliability and performance throughout the season. By the end of 2019, Hamilton had amassed 84 race wins, edging closer to Schumacher’s all-time record of 91 wins. Mercedes celebrated their sixth consecutive Constructors’ Championship, comfortably ahead of Ferrari and Red Bull, further solidifying their unprecedented era of dominance.
The 2020 season, despite being shortened due to the global pandemic, witnessed Lewis Hamilton achieve a historic milestone – his seventh world championship, equalling Michael Schumacher’s legendary record. In a rain-soaked Turkish Grand Prix, Hamilton delivered a masterful drive, starting from sixth and overcoming challenging conditions to secure victory and clinch the championship with three races remaining. His emotional radio message after the race, “That’s for all the kids out there who dream the impossible,” resonated deeply with fans worldwide.
Image alt text: Lewis Hamilton celebrates his historic seventh World Championship victory at the 2020 Turkish Grand Prix, equaling Michael Schumacher’s record and marking a peak in his Mercedes career.
Hamilton’s 2020 season was statistically remarkable. He secured 11 wins out of 17 races, finishing with 347 points, a massive 124 points ahead of his teammate Bottas. He also surpassed Schumacher’s all-time wins record, bringing his career total to 95. Mercedes celebrated their seventh consecutive Constructors’ Championship, further extending their unprecedented streak of dominance in Formula 1.
The Controversial Setback and Final Chapter (2021-2024)
The 2021 season marked a turning point, bringing an end to Mercedes’ unchallenged dominance and culminating in a controversial and heartbreaking end to Hamilton’s pursuit of a record-breaking eighth world title with Mercedes. Red Bull and Max Verstappen emerged as formidable challengers, pushing Hamilton and Mercedes to their absolute limits. The season unfolded as an epic duel between Hamilton and Verstappen, characterized by intense on-track battles and off-track controversies. Hamilton achieved several remarkable milestones, including his historic 100th race win in Russia, a feat unmatched in Formula 1 history. He also secured further victories in Brazil, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, setting the stage for a dramatic season finale in Abu Dhabi, where both Hamilton and Verstappen entered tied on points.
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix became infamous for its controversial ending. Hamilton led comfortably for the majority of the race and appeared poised to secure his eighth world title. However, a late-race safety car period and a series of contentious decisions by the race director, Michael Masi, dramatically altered the race outcome. Masi’s handling of the safety car procedure allowed Verstappen to close the gap to Hamilton and, crucially, overtake him on the final lap to win the race and the world championship. The FIA later acknowledged that Masi’s decisions were a result of “human error.”
Image alt text: Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton after the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where Verstappen won the championship, highlighting the dramatic end to Hamilton’s title bid with Mercedes.
The Abu Dhabi outcome was a devastating blow for Hamilton and Mercedes. While Mercedes secured their eighth consecutive Constructors’ Championship, a historic achievement in itself, the drivers’ title slipped away in the most agonizing manner. Hamilton later admitted that it took him a “long time to heal” from the controversial ending, acknowledging the profound disappointment and sense of injustice. The 2021 season marked the end of an era of Mercedes dominance and the beginning of a new chapter in Formula 1, with Red Bull and Verstappen seizing the ascendancy.
The subsequent seasons, 2022 and 2023, saw Mercedes struggle to adapt to the new ground effect aerodynamic regulations. Red Bull and Verstappen maintained their competitive advantage, while Mercedes faced challenges in developing a car capable of consistently challenging for race wins. Hamilton endured a winless streak stretching back to 2021, a stark contrast to his previous years of relentless success. However, in the 2024 season, at the British Grand Prix, Hamilton finally broke his winless streak, securing a record-breaking ninth victory at Silverstone in front of his home crowd. This emotional victory, his 104th career win, served as a reminder of Hamilton’s enduring talent and unwavering fighting spirit. As Hamilton approached the end of his Mercedes tenure, he aimed to conclude this historic chapter on a high note. At the season finale in Abu Dhabi in 2024, in his final race for Mercedes, Hamilton delivered a stellar performance, finishing fourth after starting from 16th. His race engineer, Peter ‘Bono’ Bonnington, uttered his iconic phrase “It’s hammer time!” for the last time, marking the end of a significant chapter in Formula 1 history.
Image alt text: Lewis Hamilton celebrates his emotional victory at the 2024 British Grand Prix, his last win with Mercedes and a highlight of his final season.
A Fond Farewell and the Road Ahead
Lewis Hamilton’s departure from Mercedes marks the end of an unparalleled era of success in Formula 1. Together, Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes redefined the sport, setting new benchmarks for excellence and etching their names into the history books. Their partnership yielded an unprecedented collection of championships, race wins, and records, solidifying their legacy as one of the greatest driver-team combinations of all time. As Hamilton embarks on his new adventure with Ferrari, he carries with him the indelible mark of his Mercedes years – a legacy of speed, precision, and relentless pursuit of victory. The Formula 1 world eagerly anticipates the next chapter in Lewis Hamilton’s illustrious career, while fondly remembering the golden era of Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes.
Image alt text: Lewis Hamilton performs celebratory donuts in his Mercedes car at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, marking his final race with the team and a symbolic farewell to the Silver Arrows.
