Lewis Hamilton is washed up: a phrase we sadly heard too typically throughout 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 typically and willingly was forward of the seven-time Method 1 world champion within the final season. First, we should make a obligatory clarification. Even in an important motorsport sequence, similar to in life, when motivation wanes, efficiency naturally declines. That is physiological as a result of the psychological facet is just too vital and it’s one thing we additionally keep in mind very nicely 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 saved it from turning into too burdensome. Furthermore, the group’s focus was rightly and undoubtedly fully on George Russell, the inheritor to Lewis Hamilton’s standing as main driver. This implies the German group adopted George Russell’s suggestions concerning growth course. The Mercedes W15 single-seater was a superb automotive however definitely not top-tier, as many flaws and inconsistent efficiency needed to be managed by the group led by Toto Wolff.
One of many crucial 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 know 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 raised handle the rear of Brackley’s automotive.
Varied ground updates supplied extra downforce and stability, and in the summertime, the W15 carried out its greatest when temperatures had 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 facet to realize outcomes past the automotive’s precise competitiveness. Lewis Hamilton gave his greatest at any time when the automotive allowed him to. Nevertheless, normally, whether or not it was chilly or sizzling, he at all times struggled greater than obligatory in qualifying on single-lap tempo.
Explaining why efficiency falls wanting expectations is usually not easy. In Mercedes’ case, it’s maybe much more complicated. Take into account that even the drivers, on a number of events, in addition to technicians and engineers, had been unable to supply believable explanations for the outcomes achieved, whether or not they had been distinctive, subpar, or disappointing, if we are able to put it that manner. We all know that each F1 driver is aware of their very own traits very nicely and, as is correct, seeks a setup that may improve them. This occurs in all groups.
By intently following Ferrari, for instance, we had been in a position to observe the variations between the Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. Elements 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 automotive and even Carlos Sainz knew that, exactly for that reason, the Spaniard was superb at taming the automotive on this part of the monitor, utilizing his driving model on entry to attenuate the boundaries of the crimson automotive. No surprise 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, similar to Max Verstappen, who, throughout free follow on any given Method 1 race weekend, goes all out to seek out the setup of the automotive greatest suited to his distinctive traits when he tightens the steering wheel. The British driver confirmed loads of issue in braking. We now have seen this since his early experiences with McLaren: the Brit used the brakes in a selected manner. 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 model that, in 2024, penalized him considerably in relation to the W15’s qualities. This facet took away his rhythm on single-lap tempo. One other vital concern got here from the dearth of rotation, which Lewis Hamilton doesn’t significantly like. Quite the opposite, he suffers from it lots. The setup window was typically lowered, and the 2 Mercedes drivers may solely adapt. George Russell did this a lot better, as his driving model was extra suited to the automotive’s traits. Pondering of the longer term with Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari, may this issue weigh in?
The query is just not simply resolved. Nevertheless, we are able to say that at Maranello, the motivations shall be very totally different, and the automotive that may come from the 2025 mission will, as a elementary attribute, keep a sure tendency to oversteer, a function that the British champion likes and might handle with no points. Furthermore, the brand new revolutionary ground, based mostly on the experimental one launched in Las Vegas, goals to widen the operational window of the automotive to provide drivers all of the instruments wanted to realize confidence with the automotive. So, no alarms for Lewis Hamilton forward of the following Method 1 world championship.
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