Lewis Hamilton is washed up: a phrase we sadly heard too usually in the course of the 2024 Method 1 championship. Scuderia Ferrari welcomes him after having heard this “sporting malice” on a number of events. This notion relies solely on outcomes in comparison with his Mercedes teammate George Russell, who usually and willingly was forward of the seven-time Method 1 world champion within the final season. First, we should make a needed clarification. Even in a very powerful motorsport collection, identical to in life, when motivation wanes, efficiency naturally declines. That is physiological as a result of the psychological side is simply too necessary and it’s one thing we additionally bear in mind very effectively from Sebastian Vettel‘s final yr with Ferrari, when the German driver was already conscious that he wouldn’t proceed with the Maranello group and his efficiency in 2020 was considerably inferior as in comparison with his Ferrari teammate.
Racing for a group in a divided surroundings is among the most difficult conditions a Method 1 driver can face. And even Lewis Hamilton suffered from this situation, though his huge expertise stored it from turning into too burdensome. Furthermore, the group’s focus was rightly and undoubtedly completely on George Russell, the inheritor to Lewis Hamilton’s standing as main driver. This implies the German group adopted George Russell’s suggestions concerning improvement course. The Mercedes W15 single-seater was a great automobile however actually not top-tier, as many flaws and inconsistent efficiency needed to be managed by the group led by Toto Wolff.
One of many essential factors was the rear finish. From the very first phases of 2024, referring to pre-season testing session on the Bahrain Worldwide circuit, it grew to become clear that the brand new pull-rod rear suspension setup was difficult to calibrate. It took a number of months to grasp methods to totally exploit this new configuration. Overheating was at all times lurking, and managing the tires proved very tough. Then, slowly and progressively, the automobile dynamics group discovered the keys to higher handle the rear of Brackley’s automobile.
Varied flooring updates offered extra downforce and stability, and in the summertime, the W15 carried out its finest when temperatures have been decrease than anticipated. This attribute was maximized by the group within the second half of the 2024 Method 1 championship, leveraging this key tire administration side to attain outcomes past the automobile’s precise competitiveness. Lewis Hamilton gave his finest at any time when the automobile allowed him to. Nevertheless, typically, whether or not it was chilly or sizzling, he at all times struggled greater than needed in qualifying on single-lap tempo.
Explaining why efficiency falls wanting expectations is usually not easy. In Mercedes’ case, it’s maybe much more advanced. Think about that even the drivers, on a number of events, in addition to technicians and engineers, have been unable to supply believable explanations for the outcomes achieved, whether or not they have been distinctive, subpar, or disappointing, if we are able to put it that approach. We all know that each F1 driver is aware of their very own traits very effectively and, as is true, seeks a setup that may improve them. This occurs in all groups.
By intently following Ferrari, for instance, we have been in a position to observe the variations between the Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. Components that, in sure circumstances, favored one driver over the opposite. As an example, consider the Mexican Grand Prix, a race weekend the place the Monegasque driver suffered an excessive amount of within the second sector. Whereas it’s true that the quick, sequential corners didn’t go well with the SF-24 automobile and even Carlos Sainz knew that, exactly for that reason, the Spaniard was excellent at taming the automobile on this part of the observe, utilizing his driving fashion on entry to attenuate the boundaries of the pink automobile. No marvel he received that Grand Prix.
However let’s get again to Lewis Hamilton. The British driver is a superb winner, however like all champions, he’s a perfectionist behind the wheel, identical to Max Verstappen, who, throughout free follow on any given Method 1 race weekend, goes all out to seek out the setup of the automobile finest suited to his distinctive traits when he tightens the steering wheel. The British driver confirmed loads of problem in braking. We now have seen this since his early experiences with McLaren: the Brit used the brakes in a specific approach. The seven-time Method 1 world champion, regardless of micro-lockups on the entrance finish, was at all times aggressive.
We’re speaking about a side of his braking fashion that, in 2024, penalized him considerably in relation to the W15’s qualities. This side took away his rhythm on single-lap tempo. One other necessary difficulty got here from the shortage of rotation, which Lewis Hamilton doesn’t notably like. Quite the opposite, he suffers from it rather a lot. The setup window was usually decreased, and the 2 Mercedes drivers may solely adapt. George Russell did this a lot better, as his driving fashion was extra suited to the automobile’s traits. Pondering of the long run with Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari, may this issue weigh in?
The query shouldn’t be simply resolved. Nevertheless, we are able to say that at Maranello, the motivations shall be very completely different, and the automobile that may come from the 2025 venture will, as a basic attribute, keep a sure tendency to oversteer, a function that the British champion likes and might handle with no points. Furthermore, the brand new progressive flooring, primarily based on the experimental one launched in Las Vegas, goals to widen the operational window of the automobile to present drivers all of the instruments wanted to realize confidence with the automobile. So, no alarms for Lewis Hamilton forward of the following Method 1 world championship.
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