As the 2023 Formula 1 season nears its end, one question has dominated discussions ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: how will Lewis Hamilton bid farewell to Mercedes? The seven-time world champion will race in his final event for the team before making a move to Ferrari in 2025. To mark his departure, Mercedes has planned an extravagant send-off for their star driver. However, the FIA has also stepped in with its own plan, adding fuel to the fire.
In a recent document, the FIA outlined new instructions for the post-race celebrations. Hamilton, even if he finishes outside the top three, will have a designated spot on the track to perform celebratory donuts. This special treatment is clearly aimed at making Hamilton’s final race for Mercedes a memorable one. According to the FIA’s statement, after taking the checkered flag, the top three drivers, as well as Hamilton (if outside the top three), must stay on track. They will then drop to the back of the field before proceeding directly to the grid, where post-race celebrations will take place.
The FIA even included a diagram to ensure that all drivers understand the procedure. The diagram shows Hamilton being given a reserved space alongside the podium finishers, with clear indications for his celebratory moment.
However, the FIA’s move has sparked controversy. Many fans took to social media to criticize the decision, arguing that it unfairly prioritizes Hamilton’s farewell over other drivers. Valtteri Bottas, Kevin Magnussen, and Zhou Guanyu are all without seats for 2024 and could potentially be leaving F1 altogether. Fans argued that these drivers, too, deserve a proper send-off, yet there is no such provision for them. One fan expressed frustration, noting, “Drivers who leave F1 for good won’t make donuts, nor will the 2024 world champion if they don’t make it to the podium. But the driver who stays in F1 does.”
This type of post-race celebration is not unprecedented. In 2022, the FIA implemented similar guidelines for Sebastian Vettel’s final race. The top three finishers were allowed to join Vettel on the grid for a farewell celebration. However, the idea of creating a dedicated “celebratory donuts area” for Hamilton has left some fans puzzled. One fan remarked, “The ‘celebratory donuts area’ diagram might be the funniest thing I’ve ever seen on an official document.”
Hamilton’s decision to leave Mercedes for Ferrari is a major shift in his F1 career, signaling a desire for a new challenge in a different environment. However, his farewell from Mercedes is being celebrated on a grand scale. The question now is: how will the F1 community react when Hamilton ultimately hangs up his racing gloves for good?
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