When Lewis Hamilton won two grands prix in the space of three weeks in July, few would have thought his Mercedes swansong could end so painfully. Yes, there was a superb fightback from 16th to fourth in Abu Dhabi,

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Stooped beside his silver and black Mercedes W15 car on the main straight of the Yas Marina Circuit on Sunday, Lewis Hamilton paused to soak up the moment.

Lewis Hamilton left Mercedes with one last overtake and a heartfelt message to the team where he won the Formula 1 title six times. “We dreamed alone but together, we believed,” Hamilton told race engineer Peter Bonnington and team principal Toto Wolff over the radio.