Lewis Hamilton feeling 'emotional' about leaving Mercedes for Ferrari as his final-season car is launched

Lewis Hamilton says it has been an “emotional” few weeks for him after announcing he will be leaving Mercedes to move to Ferrari next year.

The seven-time world champion spoke publicly for the first time since the news broke at the launch of Mercedes' new W15 car.

Hamilton said: “It’s obviously been emotional, it’s very surreal to be here.

“I came here in 2013, 11 years with the team, [now] starting my 12th. It is such a privilege to work with a group of people where you see the work they’re doing over the winter.

“You see a car coming together at the beginning of the year, this is the most exciting part of the season really.

“You’re seeing everyone’s launches, this is the first time I’ve seen the car come together as a whole. To know everything underneath the hood, which people won’t get to see, but George [Russell] and I will be able to experience on the track. It’s exciting.”

Hamilton - who will test drive the car with Russell for the first time at Silverstone - is determined to finish his time with Mercedes on a high.

“The focus through winter training is first [place],” he said.

“It’s getting the team back to where we once were. We’ve had a difficult couple of years which has grounded us.

“It’s [about] being diligent with our work, understanding our data and practice. Even one lap in the rain today might give George and I a bit of a feeling of what’s to come.

“I’ve always loved working with the team, particularly when there’s so many people, it’s a huge human element.

“Without those people working so incredibly hard, we wouldn’t get to where we want to be. It’s great when we have a common goal - and we focus on that the whole year. It’s a real privilege.”

After two years of disappointment - and having to watch Red Bull dominate the sport - Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has promised a “complete relaunch” with the constructor's new car.

“It’s been a very busy winter, obviously it’s going to be our last season with Lewis,” he said.

“We are keen on bringing a really quick car and then in the factory, hard at work to deliver the product – and today we’ll see how it goes.”

The new F1 season gets underway with the Bahrain Grand Prix on 2 March.

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