Hamilton: I am going to miss this team

Hamilton has always been propelled by Mercedes power throughout his Formula 1 career, from his days at McLaren, the team with which he started back in 2007, and then after moving to the Mercedes works team in 2013.

He delivered a solid final race for Mercedes, finishing fourth, having qualified 18th but starting from 16th after other drivers took grid penalties.

At the end of the race, Hamilton performed donuts on the start/finish line, and after parking his car, he remained there for a few moments, visibly emotional after his 12-year stint with Mercedes.

Speaking in Mercedes' post-race report, Hamilton said: "That was a tough but really enjoyable race. I had to bide my time at the beginning on the Hard tyre and was struggling to make progress.

"To come through the field on the Medium compound in the final stages felt great though. To come through the field from P16 and make it back to P4 was awesome.

"I'm really happy with how my evening went and how the car felt. It was definitely a good way to end our time together!" he admitted.

As for his emotional post-race events, the seven-time F1 champion said: "After the chequered flag, I was focused on just taking it all in, knowing that this was my last time in a Mercedes cockpit and savouring the emotions.

"I want to hold on to that moment, so I just sat there, contemplating everything we've been through together, all the ups and downs, and the success we've enjoyed.

"I can't tell you how much I am going to miss this team," Hamilton added. "I've worked with them every day for the last 12 years and there is so much love there.

"That won't disappear, no matter that we will be racing each other on track next year," he concluded.

George Russell said of his departing teammate: "Lewis had an amazing race, so I want to say a big well done to him.

"He has not only been an incredible team-mate, but someone that I looked up to when I was karting and racing in junior formula.

"He is not only the greatest driver of all time but is the type of person that every racing driver should aspire to be. I wish him well in his next challenge and look forward to battling him on track," Russell added.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff reflected: "It has been 12 years that we have spent with Lewis. It is not only the longest driver and team partnership in the sport's history, but it is also the most successful.

"A relationship of that length and a journey like that creates a bond, trust, and shared values that are rare nowadays. It is a period of time that we will always hold close to our hearts and one that I personally will treasure forever.

"Despite knowing that whatever happened in our final race today didn't impact our legacy, we all wanted to end on a high. I am so glad we were able to do so.

"He will always be a part of our family and, if it isn't us winning on track, we hope that it is him," Wolff concluded.

As for Hamilton's race engineer, Peter Bonnington, or Bono as the world knows him, he hailed the leap of faith the driver did when he left McLaren to join Mercedes in 2013.

Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Bono said: "For him to have that belief in us, I mean we knew we had a competitive program coming up with the V6 engine and the chassis. The partnership of that car and Lewis, the records say the story."

Over his career with Mercedes, Hamilton won six F1 drivers' titles, 84 races, and started from pole 78 times.