Lewis Hamilton’s 2024 Formula 1 season has been a rollercoaster, marked by a brilliant win at the British Grand Prix but hindered by a challenging second half of the year.
The seven-time Formula 1 world champion faced two particularly tough races in the recent triple-header, retiring after just four laps at the United States Grand Prix and struggling with severe balance issues in São Paulo. In conditions where he typically excels, Hamilton uncharacteristically faltered in the wet, a performance that analyst Peter Windsor attributed to a lack of confidence in his Mercedes. At one point, he was even overtaken by Franco Colapinto before managing to fend off Sergio Perez for a 10th-place finish, narrowly protecting his points tally from his closest competitor in the Drivers’ Championship.
In a recent discussion on Talksport, journalist James Allen highlighted what he considers an “unusual” approach Mercedes has taken with Lewis Hamilton’s car this season. According to James Allen, the future Ferrari driver has not received upgrades at the same rate as his teammate, George Russell—a strategy that stands out, given the British driver’s illustrious tenure with the team.
Mercedes did introduce a major upgrade for the W15 at the Austin Grand Prix, intending to resolve some of the car’s weaknesses. However, Andrew Shovlin acknowledged that the team is still facing a fundamental issue that will require a solution in the car’s 2025 design. James Allen’s comments underscore that Hamilton’s upgrades have been fewer, a strategy he deems unexpected for a driver of Lewis Hamilton’s status within the team.
“It’s these little development parts that are put on the car that make a big difference and that can really move you up and down the grid” – the British former TV commentator and journalist explained – “George Russell is getting those parts and Lewis isn’t, which is normal stuff when a driver is leaving a team but it’s just very unusual for someone of his calibre to be doing it.” – he added.
Karun Chandhok ‘Eager’ to See if Hamilton Can ‘Rediscover His Mojo’ with Ferrari Move
After claiming six championships with Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton’s winning streak has slowed significantly, with only two victories between 2024 and 2022. Meanwhile, Ferrari appears to have gained the upper hand in car development, introducing a substantial upgrade package at Monza that has since helped them secure wins on diverse tracks, such as in Austin and Mexico City. This advancement might reassure Hamilton, especially after dealing with similar performance struggles at Mercedes throughout the 2022 Formula 1 campaign.
Karun Chandhok expressed his enthusiasm about Hamilton’s potential at Ferrari, hoping the move will enable him to revive his competitive edge after years spent battling in the mid-pack during Mercedes’ downturn.
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