The remarkable Hamilton coincidence from his Mercedes farewell

The fat lady has not quite hit her highest note for Lewis Hamilton as a Mercedes driver, as he remains contracted to the team until December 31st. 

This is one reason why he is not driving for Ferrari in the post-season Abu Dhabi test as he completes sponsor engagements for Mercedes before trading Brackley for Maranello. 

It is just the second time in Hamilton's career that he has changed teams, last doing so, to much criticism, when he traded McLaren for Mercedes in time for the 2013 season. 

His last race for McLaren was the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix - and that had some remarkable coincidences to his last Mercedes race 12 years and 13 days later.

Hamilton's final McLaren and Mercedes races

Now, of course, there is one major differences between Brazil 2012 and Abu Dhabi 2024 in that Hamilton actually finished the latter, in fourth, having been clattered into by Nico Hulkenberg and forced into retirement in his McLaren farewell.

But starting with the retirement of Sergio Perez, there are some remarkable coincidences. 

In 2012, Perez retired on the first lap having been caught up in an incident involving Bruno Senna after Red Bull's reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel, with Vettel being tipped into a spin. 

In 2024, Perez retired on the first lap having been caught up in an incident involving Valtteri Bottas, after Red Bull's reigning world champion Max Verstappen caused a spin on the opening lap, collecting Oscar Piastri. 

Both Vettel and Verstappen, would as it happens, would recover to finish sixth...

Elsewhere, a British McLaren driver won both races in question - Jenson Button and Lando Norris, respectively, as the podium was completed by a pair of Ferrari drivers. 

At Interlagos, second-place went to a Spanish driver, Fernando Alonso, whilst the podium was completed by the sister car of Felipe Massa.

Fast-forward 12 years to Yas Marina, second-place went to a Spanish driver, Carlos Sainz, whilst the podium was completed by the sister car of Felipe Massa.