Hamilton reflects on emotional and surreal morning at Monza

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton admitted that he felt “quite emotional” as his current team Mercedes announced Andrea Kimi Antonelli as his successor during the Italian Grand Prix weekend.

Lewis Hamilton joined Mercedes at the start of the 2013 season. Back then, the British driver was a one-time F1 world champion, having won his first title with McLaren in 2008.

While he won only a single race during his first race with Mercedes, he started an incredible run of success in the following season. Between 2014 and 2020, Hamilton won six world championship title with the German marque, with only failing to clinch the crown in 2016 when his team-mate Nico Rosberg became champion.

The now seven-time F1 champion made a shock announcement in February, confirming his departure from Mercedes to join Formula One’s most successful team, Scuderia Ferrari.

The Brackley-based outfit’s team boss Toto Wolff took his time to decide over Hamilton’s successor, but the Austrian confirmed at last weekend’s Italian Grand Prix that Mercedes junior driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli will replace the seven-time world champion.

Reflecting on the Saturday morning when Mercedes made the announcement, Hamilton admitted to feeling “quite emotional”.

“I knew it would be announced [on Saturday] morning. I woke up and it was very, very, very surreal to just have it officially confirmed [about who is getting] my seat that I held onto for so long.

“So it was quite emotional this morning, but I’m really, really happy for Kimi and for this team – I know Kimi is gonna do a great job.”

“It’s been there all year. I love my team so much. We’ve been through a hell of a lot together. So it will be emotional every single race because every race we do, it’s the last time at that particular place.

“And every race we get closer and closer to the last time I’ll be there at Mercedes. It’s going to be tough. But my focus right now is just trying to do the best job as I can for the team.”