LEWIS: THIS WAS HARDER MERC THAN I THOUGHT

LEWIS HAMILTON reflected on an "awkward" final season with Mercedes as he admitted he "massively underestimated" how tough it would be.

- DANIEL MOXON

This weekend's Abu Dhabi race will be his final for the Silver Arrows before he starts with Ferrari next year.

He admits his decision put "a strain" on his relationship with close allies at Mercedes.

He said: "The first meeting with Toto (Wolff) at the beginning of the year was awkward, of course, so it was awkward from the get-go.