Breaking:Did ‘disillusioned’ Lewis Hamilton ‘check out’ in final…read more
Did ‘disillusioned’ Lewis Hamilton ‘check out’ in final…read more
F1 journalist Ben Hunt has suggested that Lewis Hamilton’s performance in his final season with Mercedes might have been affected by a sense of disillusionment, as he was already planning to leave the team for Ferrari in 2025. Hunt speculates that Hamilton, who had announced his departure before the 2024 season even began, may have “checked out” mentally as he served out his final year at Mercedes.
The 2024 season was a mixed bag for Hamilton. Although he ended his 945-day winless streak, he was not in contention for the World Championship, finishing seventh in the Drivers’ standings. This marked the first time in Hamilton’s illustrious 18-year F1 career that he finished outside the top six, and it was also only the second time he lost a qualifying battle to a teammate.
Hamilton himself acknowledged his struggles, notably admitting after Sprint qualifying in Qatar that he “was definitely not fast anymore.” This admission, coupled with his lackluster results, has raised questions about his motivation throughout the season. Hunt suggests that Hamilton may have mentally checked out once he made the decision to leave Mercedes, leading to a dip in his drive and commitment.
On the James Allen on F1 podcast, Hunt explained that once a driver knows they are leaving a team, their performance often drops as they no longer have the same drive to perform at their highest level. “When you’ve handed in your notice, you’re never working at your same capacity,” Hunt said. “The drive isn’t there to deliver week in, week out.” According to Hunt, Hamilton’s focus shifted towards Ferrari, the team he would join in 2025, which could have affected his ability to concentrate fully on the task at hand with Mercedes.
Hunt also pointed out that Hamilton’s comments about his future hinted at a shift in his mindset. He said that while Hamilton was racing behind the Ferrari in 2024, he may have been thinking about how he could improve the car once he joined the team. This distraction could have detracted from his usual focus on his current team and car, further affecting his performances.
In addition to his comments about his speed, Hamilton made headlines in Qatar when he wanted to retire the car during the race, citing frustration with the performance, only to be persuaded otherwise by his race engineer, Pete Bonnington. These moments of frustration and self-doubt seemed to reflect a deeper disengagement from the season.
In conclusion, while Hamilton’s 2024 season was far from a complete failure, Hunt’s analysis suggests that his performance was influenced by his decision to leave Mercedes and his shifting focus towards Ferrari, potentially leading to a lack of motivation and drive that hindered his results.
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