Hamilton helpless as Mercedes star faces one of F1’s STRANGEST dilemmas
Hamilton helpless as Mercedes star faces one of F1’s STRANGEST dilemmas
When Lewis Hamilton returns to the Formula 1 paddock in Zandvoort later this week after the summer break, he will no doubt be hoping that Mercedes are able to maintain the momentum which has given him the chance once again do what he does best – win.
The seven-time world champions finally extended his record number of F1 victories to 104 and then 105 by winning the British Grand Prix at Silverstone in July before following it up with success at the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa three weeks later.
F1 HEADLINES: Ricciardo integrity questioned as F1 star labelled ‘desperate’
READ MORE: Red Bull star SLAMS 'removal' order claim amid Verstappen fears
Those triumphs ended a run of two-and-a-half seasons away from the top step of the podium for the 38-year-old, and came as Mercedes reeled in frontrunners Red Bull alongside McLaren.
Ever since F1 transitioned to its new era of ground-effect aerodynamics-based technical regulations at the start of the 2022 season, Mercedes had failed to provide Hamilton with a car in which he could challenge at the front.
A failed initial concept was followed by ignorance over the extent to which the team had followed the wrong track, before Hamilton undertook a series of setup experiments made physically gruelling by the cars’ tendency to violently bounce at high speed.
With Red Bull struggling to improve upon their own machinery - which had been dominant to an unprecedented across the two previous campaigns - from this spring onwards, those left in their dust were finally given the opportunity to make up serious ground. Belated it may have been, but Mercedes finally propelled themselves into contention again.
How has Hamilton managed to win again?
Hamilton’s latest two wins were not merely the result of the car’s improvement, of course. At neither of those two race weekends was the W15 the fastest on the grid – on race pace McLaren had the advantage and should be disappointed they were unable to turn it into a pair of victories.
But the team’s progress allowed Hamilton to make the difference. He drove with his typical intelligence, consistency and confidence on tyres to punish McLaren’s strategic errors and deliver the results he, his team and his fans had waited so long to see again.
Given the pressure to end his long victory drought, it would have been easy for Hamilton to panic in either scenario – to make the wrong tyre chance before the final stint at Silverstone (as Lando Norris did) or to make a mistake when hunted down by the quicker Oscar Piastri in the final stages at Spa. He didn’t, because this was Hamilton at his level-headed best.
READ MORE: Ralf Schumacher’s ex-wife reacts to coming out in EXPLOSIVE interview
This is not just a driver with more championship and victories behind him than any other, but one who seems once again laser-focused on forward momentum, unburdened by a fundamentally flawed car and disputes about how to improve it. If Mercedes are able to maintain the efficacy of their development plan, they will reap the rewards of Hamilton’s combination of speed and unflappability between now and the season finale in Abu Dhabi in December.
But Hamilton is now facing one of F1’s more quirky quandaries – hoping his current team can provide him with the platform to win as often as possible, while also hoping his future team is making better progress on next season’s car.
READ MORE: Dutch GP faces 'legal proceedings' ahead of HUGE disappointment
Why is Hamilton's situation a bit strange?
That is the nature of the way F1’s driver market works - deals are often agreed so far in advance that, as in the case of Hamilton’s upcoming move to Ferrari for 2025, an entire season can pass before switches actually happen.
It means working as hard as possible with current colleagues to achieve the best results, while having no idea how well next season’s ones are preparing for your arrival, but hoping for the best. A process at once relatively awkward and entirely logical.
Some drivers are left in a kind of development purgatory where they cannot help influence the car they will drive for next year and beyond, and are also increasingly left out of key performance meetings with their current team as their departure draws nearer. Hamilton reflected as much earlier this year.
READ MORE: McLaren star claims Perez ‘OUT’ of Red Bull after shock U-turn
“I mean, it’s inevitable perhaps [that I’ll be left out of meetings with Mercedes] at one stage, but at the end of the day, no information that I would get this year will impact next year because I’m not in communication [with Ferrari],” Hamilton said. “Nothing passes hands until I start the season next year. And it takes time to develop things.”
2025 is the final season of F1’s current regulations before a huge reworking of both the cars and power units comes in for 2026, meaning next year’s vehicles are very likely to be lightly adapted evolutions of each team’s effort from this year, with focus increasingly centered on the new era as the gap until its start shortens.
That means both Mercedes and Ferrari’s level of performance in the final ten races of the season are likely to be pretty indicative of what they will be able to achieve in 2025, at least in its early stages.
For Hamilton, then, what Mercedes do next will dictate to what extent he is able to capitalise on his resurgence in the short-term. But what happens in the scarlet red garages will offer a far more accurate glimpse into his future and whether he is able to finally win an eighth championship.
Though he may not be able to collaborate with his new team until the contract changeover happens on 1 January, he will no doubt be hoping Ferrari demonstrate significant forward progress as well as Mercedes.
READ MORE: Horner’s toughest Red Bull test still to come
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Kelly Piquet enjoys 'beautiful' weekend away from Verstappen struggles
- 1 minute ago
Hamilton Mercedes replacement doubts revealed during champion's 'USELESS' rant
- 1 hour ago
Horner at the END with Red Bull as decline hits new lows
- 2 hours ago
F1 team announce driver REPLACEMENT decision for Singapore GP
- 3 hours ago
F1 News Today: Hamilton Ferrari debut announced as boss makes KEY decision over Ferrari star
- Today 15:20
Singapore Grand Prix weather forecast - latest today from Marina Bay
- Today 14:22
F1 Race Calendar 2024
-
GP AUSTRALIA
22 - 24 Mar
Carlos Sainz
-
GP JAPAN
5 - 7 Apr
Max Verstappen
-
GP CHINA
19 - 21 Apr
Max Verstappen
-
GP USA
3 - 5 May
Lando Norris
-
GP ITALY
17 - 19 May
Max Verstappen
-
GP MONACO
24 - 26 May
Charles Leclerc
-
GP CANADA
7 - 9 Jun
Max Verstappen
-
GP SPAIN
21 - 23 Jun
Max Verstappen
-
GP AUSTRIA
28 - 30 Jun
George Russell
-
GP GREAT BRITAIN
5 - 7 Jul
Lewis Hamilton
-
GP HUNGARY
19 - 21 Jul
Oscar Piastri
-
GP BELGIUM
26 - 28 Jul
Lewis Hamilton
-
GP NETHERLANDS
23 - 25 Aug
Lando Norris
-
GP ITALY
30 Aug - 1 Sep
Charles Leclerc
-
GP AZERBAIJAN
13 - 15 Sep
Oscar Piastri
- GP SINGAPORE 20 - 22 Sep
- GP USA 18 - 20 Oct
- GP MEXICO 25 - 27 Oct
- GP BRAZIL 1 - 3 Nov
Related news
F1 News Today: Hamilton Ferrari debut announced as boss makes KEY decision over Ferrari star
Hamilton gets HEATED in Mercedes seat complaint
Hamilton playing 'SECOND FIDDLE' in damning Mercedes assessment
Mercedes identify cause of major Hamilton issue in HUGE Azerbaijan GP boost
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Franco Alejandro Colapinto
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Oliver Bearman
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- AWS Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860