Lewis Hamilton finally let his emotions get the better of him this week as the impact of leaving McLaren started to hit home, writes Ian Parkes.
In an interview with the BBC as part of their review package looking back on the current campaign, Hamilton became teary-eyed when asked about his exit from a team he has been associated with for the past 14 years.
"I'm going to miss them, fighting with Jenson [Button], fighting with McLaren to help them win races. I'm just proud to have contributed," Hamilton said.
"When you think about it being the last time – and it's on my mind a lot – then it's very surreal, very strange, very sad in many ways.
"We've a great history together. Of course, we've won and we've lost the world championship together, been up to the highest highs and had the lowest lows together, but we have always pulled through.
"So with this being my last race, my last time in this team kit, I'm going to be wearing it very proudly this weekend. I will be making sure that I enjoy every moment because it's going to be tough.
"But it's not the end of an era, it's the end of a great chapter in my life. Hopefully, I'll have a second chapter to my life, but this is a very special one with McLaren and I really hope I can do it for them this weekend."
Although no longer involved in the championship battle, Hamilton has designs on finishing his time at McLaren with back-to-back victories – he won the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, last week – after completing his final Friday practice with the team by setting the fastest times in both sessions.
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