Lewis Hamilton F1 change set to REMAIN at Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton

Hamilton change set to REMAIN at Mercedes

Hamilton drove the initial idea back in 2020

Tuesday 31 December 2024 01:00

Despite Lewis Hamilton's exit from the team, Mercedes are set to stick with a concept driven by the seven-time Formula 1 world champion.

Hamilton is set to join Ferrari in 2025, bringing an end to a highly successful 12 seasons with the Silver Arrows in which he won six drivers' championships and helped scoop eight constructors' titles.

Perhaps in a nod to this, team chief Toto Wolff has revealed Mercedes will keep one crucial change driven for by the British star following his arrival.

Lewis Hamilton has raced for Mercedes for the last time

Mercedes set to stick with Hamilton change

In a video released on the Mercedes YouTube channel, Hamilton and Wolff are reminiscing about their time together, looking at all of the cars and helmets the Brit has driven and worn during his time at Brackley,

Crucially, however, the W11 was the first black Mercedes, introduced by the team in the wake of the George Floyd murder and the huge social movement that called for equality and an end to racism that followed.

"I couldn't honestly believe...I was at my dad's house after I had spoken to you about changing the car to black. I couldn't believe when you called me and said that they’d all agreed," Hamilton recalled in the video.

"That was a really emotional call for me when I was at my dad's house.

Mercedes have continued to use elements of the black car

"I remember getting off. I'm like, 'Oh my God', they're changing the car to black. They've agreed."

Wolff replied: "It was a big, big step for Mercedes. Huge. Famous Silver Arrows. racing in black,"

Later in the conversation, after discussing how 'cool' the car looked and how good the sponsors looked on it, Wolff added: But that's why we stick to it,"

"You stuck with it for a couple of years. We're going to continue."

"Are you going to keep it, really?" Hamilton questioned.

"Yeah," Wolff replied.