Is Father Time Catching Up to Lewis Hamilton? Jenson Button

“Is Father Time Catching Up to Lewis Hamilton? Jenson Button Questions the F1 Legend’s Qualifying…..read more

Jenson Button recently speculated on whether age could be affecting Lewis Hamilton’s qualifying performance in Formula 1 this season. As Hamilton approaches his 40s, Button believes his reaction times may be diminishing, which might explain why he has struggled to outpace his younger teammate, George Russell, in qualifying sessions this year.

This season, Hamilton is trailing Russell 16-5 in their qualifying head-to-head, with only three more sessions left in 2024. This is only the second time in Hamilton’s 12 seasons with Mercedes that he has been out-qualified by a teammate. The most recent example came at the Brazilian Grand Prix, where Hamilton failed to make it out of the first qualifying round (Q1) in wet conditions. Meanwhile, Russell managed to put in a time that was two seconds faster than Hamilton’s and qualified second overall for the session. Hamilton admitted to reporters after the qualifying session that he felt a lack of confidence in the car, describing the experience as “pretty bad.”

This difficulty in qualifying has impacted Hamilton’s performance on race days. Starting further down the grid has forced him to put in extra effort to recover positions during the races. Since the summer break, Hamilton has only managed to score 40 points, while Russell has amassed 75. This pattern prompted Button to reflect on Hamilton’s situation, noting that qualifying had traditionally been one of Hamilton’s strengths but that age might now be a factor. Button commented that it’s possible Hamilton may have lost a “tiny bit” of his reaction time advantage due to aging, which could put him at a disadvantage in qualifying, where every millisecond counts.

The 2009 World Champion explained that, while an experienced driver like Hamilton can often make up for any minor losses in reaction time during a race, qualifying is a different scenario. Button noted that qualifying demands a high level of precision and consistency, which younger drivers are able to sustain with ease. “You are racing against 20-year-olds,” Button pointed out, adding that even the best drivers lose some of their sharpness with age, especially in a sport as reaction-dependent as Formula 1.

However, after his disappointing performance in Brazil, Hamilton bounced back in the first practice session at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, where he outpaced Russell by nearly four-tenths of a second. This boost in performance showcased Hamilton’s resilience, though his overall struggles have raised questions about his future in F1. Following his result in Brazil, Hamilton even hinted at the possibility of stepping away from the sport. Over the radio, he told his Mercedes team that if Brazil was to be his last race, he regretted not having ended on a better note. Later, he revealed to Sky F1 that he was, in that moment, genuinely considering walking away from Formula 1, expressing frustration over the season’s challenges.

Hamilton explained that his feelings after Brazil were part of the natural emotional strain that comes with a challenging season. He acknowledged that he’s had a difficult year but expressed a strong determination to improve his performance in the future. “It’s frustrating when you have a season like this, which I’m pretty sure I won’t have again, or at least I’ll work towards not having again,” he told reporters. Despite the momentary doubts, Hamilton reassured fans that he remains committed to pushing himself for the remaining races of the season.

Button, Hamilton’s former teammate at McLaren, expressed relief to see Hamilton back in action at Las Vegas after the emotional toll Brazil seemed to take on him. Button highlighted how, after a disappointing weekend, drivers tend to dwell on their most recent performance, especially if it’s poor. Button was pleased that Hamilton decided to press on for the last few races of 2024, and he believes fans can expect to see Hamilton at his best.

In the long term, Hamilton’s future appears set. Following this season, he will switch teams to join Ferrari in 2025, where he’ll partner with Charles Leclerc. This new chapter with Ferrari is expected to bring fresh challenges and could reignite Hamilton’s competitive edge, as he aims to make a strong impact with the legendary Italian team. Hamilton has already expressed his eagerness to work with Ferrari, which he believes will provide new opportunities to showcase his skills.

With his Mercedes career winding down and his switch to Ferrari on the horizon, Hamilton has just a few more races to give everything he can for his current team. Though the 2024 season has been challenging, Hamilton’s decision to continue racing through its final rounds reflects his resilience and determination to compete at the highest level, regardless of age or circumstances. As Button noted, the setbacks of 2024 haven’t dampened Hamilton’s spirit, and he expects that the seven-time World Champion will continue to prove himself in Formula 1 for as long as he remains on the grid.