Breaking: Lewis Hamilton has regained his edge in… and with… Read More.
Lewis Hamilton has regained his edge in… and with… Read More.
Success in F1 requires numerous qualities, including talent, patience, skill, and a fast car, but one of the most crucial is mentality.
With Mercedes back on form, Hamilton’s recent struggles are clearer, but he’s emerged stronger and more dangerous for his final 10 races with the team.
Hamilton has always praised his Mercedes team, acknowledging their efforts after races and especially when testing new upgrades.
However, his comments following the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix were telling. Despite finishing ninth, Hamilton and teammate George Russell secured enough points to place Mercedes second in the World Championship.
Even though Hamilton maintained his record of scoring points in every race of 2023, his downbeat demeanor was evident. When asked about the best part of 2023, he replied, “the fact I survived it.”
Hamilton’s confidence appeared low, particularly as Red Bull dominated without any recent developments. His lack of faith in Mercedes’ ability to close the performance gap over the winter was clear.
This was compounded by the announcement of his move to Ferrari during the summer break. Adding to his struggles, Russell’s dominance in 2024, particularly in qualifying, often left Hamilton feeling demoralized.
At one point, Russell led their qualifying head-to-head 8-1, with Hamilton expressing doubts about out-qualifying his teammate for the rest of the season. However, Hamilton has since proven himself wrong.
A pivotal moment came with a competitive Mercedes upgrade at the Canadian Grand Prix.
While initial optimism was tempered by unique circumstances that weekend, Hamilton knew the significance. He called it one of his worst races, feeling the pressure on his own performance rather than the car’s.
This sparked a turnaround for the seven-time World Champion. Since then, he has consistently scored at least 15 points per weekend and ended a nearly 1,000-day win drought at Silverstone.
In Belgium, despite benefiting from Russell’s disqualification, Hamilton drove nearly flawlessly.
Hamilton’s ratings reflect his resurgence. After struggling earlier in the season, he began scoring higher from Spain onward, including eights, nines, and even a ten.
Consistency has always been a hallmark of Hamilton’s career, being one of only two drivers, alongside Max Verstappen, to score points in every 2023 race. Historically, Hamilton’s form post-summer break has been strong.
In 2021, he matched Verstappen in points heading into Abu Dhabi, and he has often gained momentum in the latter part of seasons, as seen in 2020, 2017, 2018, and 2016.
Now, with an improved car and renewed confidence, Hamilton is poised to be a formidable competitor in the remaining races.
While a title push is unlikely, finishing third or even second in the World Championship is within reach.
Hamilton’s mental reset during the summer break has reignited his drive, making him a significant threat in the final stretch of the season.
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