Breaking: Mercedes Eye Hamilton U-Turn Amid Verstappen Ta…read more
Mercedes Eye Hamilton U-Turn Amid Verstappen Ta…read more
Lewis Hamilton’s final season with Mercedes has not been the swan song many anticipated. Instead, it has been a challenging year, one of the most difficult in his illustrious Formula 1 career. Despite some notable moments earlier in the season, including an emotional victory at Silverstone and a strong performance in Spa, the second half of the year has been marred by disappointing results. Races in Austin, Mexico, and Brazil have been particularly tough for the seven-time world champion, and with Mercedes trailing behind McLaren, Red Bull, and Ferrari, the team finds itself in a difficult position.
Hamilton, however, has long been known for his resilience and ability to fight back in the face of adversity. With three races left in the 2024 season—Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi—many are hoping that the Hamilton-Mercedes partnership can finish on a positive note, despite the setbacks of recent months. The question now is whether the team can find a way to reverse their fortunes and regain their competitive edge before Hamilton bids farewell to Mercedes at the end of the season.
One person who has weighed in on Mercedes’ current situation is trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin. While he acknowledged the team’s struggles, Shovlin tempered expectations for the final races. He stated that Mercedes’ focus has shifted away from immediate wins and toward learning as much as possible from the remaining races in preparation for 2025. “The big focus in these remaining races for us is learning what we can,” Shovlin said in an interview with Motorsport.com. “Our focus has very much shifted to learning what we need to this year to apply to next year in order to get on top of those issues.”
Shovlin’s comments suggest that Mercedes has more or less accepted the reality of their current situation—there will be no championship titles for them in 2024. With both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships effectively out of reach, the team’s goal is now to extract valuable insights from the remaining events. This approach could help alleviate the pressure on the drivers and engineers, giving them a freer hand to explore solutions without the burden of needing to secure immediate results.
This shift in focus may play to Mercedes’ advantage, especially when compared to their rivals. With Red Bull, Ferrari, and McLaren still battling for championships, there could be tension between those teams, and unexpected issues may arise. Mercedes, on the other hand, can approach the final races with a more relaxed mindset, using the opportunity to experiment and gather data for next season. The team’s recent performance in Brazil, where George Russell was close to securing a podium finish before the race was disrupted by a red flag, has also shown that Mercedes still has the potential to compete at a high level when circumstances align.
However, the reality for Hamilton has been far more difficult. Despite Russell’s near-podium in Brazil, Hamilton’s own struggles have been more pronounced, particularly at the Brazilian Grand Prix where he couldn’t find the pace to match his teammate. With the car still not providing the performance he needs, the seven-time world champion will have to dig deep if he is to end his Mercedes career on a high.
It’s clear that Hamilton’s journey with Mercedes is coming to an end, but it’s not over yet. With just three races left in the season, he will surely draw upon his storied career and his personal mantra to keep pushing forward. Reflecting on his seventh world title, which he clinched in 2020, Hamilton shared a powerful message: “Nothing is impossible. A driving force for me this year has been to set an example for the next generation, to never give up on your dreams.” These words resonate now more than ever, and Hamilton can use them as a guiding light through the final stretch of 2024.
“I was told by many that my dream was impossible, yet here I am. I want you to know that you can do it too. Never give up, keep fighting, and let’s keep rising to the occasion,” Hamilton had said at the 2020 Turkish Grand Prix. If Hamilton channels this attitude in the final races, he could yet help Mercedes end their season on a positive note, overcoming their current struggles and leaving a legacy of perseverance and determination.
In the end, while Mercedes’ 2024 season may not have gone according to plan, there is still time for a dramatic turn of events. With Hamilton’s resolve and the team’s focus on improvement, there is a chance for them to shine in the final three races and show the world that even in the toughest of times, the spirit of champions never fades.
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