As seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton nears the conclusion of his illustrious Mercedes career, Karun Chandhok observes that the driver departing is not the same as the one who first joined a decade ago.
Hamilton, now 39, made the switch from McLaren’s chrome livery to Mercedes’ silver back in 2013, a move that raised many eyebrows at the time. Despite the doubts, Hamilton believed in the decision, a belief that would pay off with an impressive six world titles under Mercedes. This success not only equaled Michael Schumacher’s record of seven championships but also helped Hamilton set numerous milestones, including the most Grand Prix wins (105), pole positions (104), podiums (201), laps led (5,485), and total points scored (4,829.5) in Formula 1 history.
Karun Chandhok on Lewis Hamilton’s Shifting Motivation at Mercedes
Karun Chandhok, however, feels that today’s Hamilton isn’t racing with the same relentless drive that fueled his dominant streak between 2014 and 2020, when he captured six titles in seven seasons. The Indian former racing driver and broadcaster urges fans to “accept” this, noting that Lewis Hamilton’s current performances and mindset are understandably different.
The ex-HRT driver insists that merely aiming for top-five finishes is likely far less fulfilling for Lewis Hamilton, who is accustomed to contending for victories. Hamilton’s last podium came in July at the Belgian Grand Prix, marking a four-podium streak that included P3 finishes in Spain and Hungary and a record ninth British Grand Prix win. Yet, his average finish over the subsequent seven races has slipped to P6.
Karun Chandhok draws parallels between Lewis Hamilton’s current challenges with Mercedes and Ayrton Senna’s 1993 Formula 1 season at McLaren, where Ayrton Senna battled for victories despite Williams’ dominant car. Karun Chandhok isn’t surprised that Lewis Hamilton’s motivation has waned amid Mercedes’ struggle to compete with top rivals like McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull.
“If you go back and read anything from 1993 about Senna, and what some people at the McLaren team said at the time about him, when there was a chance of a victory, Senna was there. That’s why he won five races that year. He was a three-time world champion. Where is the motivation to finish in fifth place? What is the use of getting another fifth place? The motivation is different when you can win. This is where they are human beings, and we have to accept they’re human beings. For Lewis, the motivation to finish P5 [or] P6, that cannot be the same. They’re not robots.” – the Indian former racing driver pointed out.
Lewis Hamilton is on track for his lowest points tally since his debut season with Mercedes in 2013.
With Hamilton’s exit from Mercedes approaching, a decline in motivation would be understandable. Mercedes showed brief improvement before the summer break, particularly with Russell’s standout win in Austria, but they’ve struggled to keep pace with the top teams consistently.
The Silver Arrows currently trail the top three constructors by 162 points with only three races remaining. Meanwhile, Hamilton and Russell sit in sixth and seventh place in the drivers’ standings, with a 52-point gap separating them from the top five.
This year is set to deliver Hamilton’s lowest points return since 2013, a statistic he acknowledged after the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Hamilton hinted at his eagerness for the season to wrap up, as he looks forward to new beginnings alongside Charles Leclerc at Ferrari in 2025.
Leave a Reply