KUALA LUMPUR: Seven-time Formula One (F1) world champion Lewis Hamilton described his 12-year journey with the Mercedes AMG Petronas team, which began in 2013, as a profound and authentic partnership far beyond a mere business transaction but a bond built on trust, passion, and shared dreams.
Hamilton highlighted the rarity of finding an organisation where everyone works seamlessly and relentlessly thus crediting this unity for the successful transition to the power unit and six world championship titles achieved together as a "family".
The 39-year-old British racing driver expressed how exhilarating it was to be on track brimming with confidence knowing that the car was poised to finish the race effortlessly because the power unit is doing its job with the probability of very few failures.
"It was like there was real passion and real drive for change, for winning, for success and we did it together so I like to think that in many years to come, people that are within the company, within the team, people that followed us from all over will always remember these beautiful days that we had together because they were epic.
"When I started and embarked on the journey, I didn't put any targets in it. I just was like, we're going to give it everything and see where it goes and we achieved so much more than I think any of us thought that we would,” he said when met at an exclusive group media interview at Petronas Twin Tower here yesterday.
Hamilton will be racing for Ferrari from 2025. He made his debut as an F1 driver for McLaren in 2007, then hopped over to Mercedes-Benz in 2013.
Reflecting on his journey to join the Silver Arrows, Hamilton who hoped to be remembered as someone decent recalled being 28 years old and nervous for his first seat fit but knowing the team’s openness to his requests would allow his DNA to blend with theirs.
However, he acknowledged that there were times he questioned whether he could do it and credited the secret to his longevity with the Mercedes AMG Petronas team to their constant hunger for more success.
