Hamilton Lifts Mercedes Team Spirit in Final Race - Allison Reveals
Formula 1 technical director James Allison praised Lewis Hamilton's uplifting impact on Mercedes during his final race in Abu Dhabi, despite facing significant challenges that saw him start from 16th place.
Race car drifting through tire smoke
Hamilton's qualifying was compromised when a loose bollard, dislodged by Kevin Magnussen, became wedged under his car's floor during Q1. Despite this setback, Hamilton showcased his exceptional skill by climbing through the field to finish fourth in the race.
"I think it could not have been more well handled by Lewis and by the team," Allison remarked, highlighting the mutual respect and appreciation built through their partnership. He emphasized that while recent seasons had been challenging, no other driver-team partnership in Formula 1 history has matched their collective achievements.
Particularly noteworthy was Hamilton's response to the qualifying disappointment. During the post-session debrief, when team morale was low, Hamilton encouraged the team, saying, "Look, put your chins up, we're going to make the most of tomorrow and remember all the times when we've got this right together."
Allison believes Hamilton could have secured a podium finish in his final Mercedes race if not for the qualifying incident, noting that the gaps between P5 and the front row were minimal. The technical director expressed confidence that Hamilton would have had a strong qualifying session overall if he had advanced to Q2.
The race marked the end of one of Formula 1's most successful partnerships, with Hamilton and Mercedes setting numerous benchmarks in the sport during their time together.