Hamilton being ‘rewarded’ for Mercedes...

Hamilton being ‘rewarded’ for Mercedes… Read More 👇

Lewis Hamilton has faced a challenging period at Mercedes since the introduction of new technical regulations, but he now seems to be reaping the rewards for his perseverance. According to former IndyCar driver and F1 pundit James Hinchcliffe, Hamilton is being “rewarded” for the time he spent experimenting with Mercedes’ car setups over the last two seasons.

Mercedes experienced a significant drop in performance when the new technical regulations were introduced in 2022, making it difficult for the team to maintain its position as a consistent front-runner. However, recent improvements have put Mercedes back in contention at the front of the grid. Notably, Hamilton has been the only driver, aside from Max Verstappen, to win multiple races in the first 14 races of the season.

Hinchcliffe highlights that Hamilton’s willingness to undertake radical setup changes over the past few years has been crucial for Mercedes’ understanding and development of the car. Now, with the team starting to get a better grip on the tricky W15, Hamilton is finally seeing the benefits of his efforts. Hinchcliffe points out that after two winless seasons—remarkably, the first in Hamilton’s F1 career—the seven-time world champion has managed to secure two victories in the first half of this season, second only to Verstappen in terms of race wins.

While Hamilton’s teammate George Russell leads him in the qualifying head-to-head battle, with eight to six in favor of Russell, Hinchcliffe notes that Hamilton’s average starting position is actually a few spots higher. This statistic underlines Hamilton’s strong performances and his continued ability to deliver results, even as Mercedes works to optimize its car.

Hinchcliffe believes that Hamilton’s years of experimenting with unorthodox setups and guiding Mercedes’ development direction have finally paid off. The car is now allowing Hamilton to showcase why he is considered one of the greatest drivers in Formula 1 history.

Despite the challenges, Hamilton has remained motivated throughout the ongoing season, which is his final one with Mercedes before he moves to Ferrari. The British driver is set to partner with Charles Leclerc at the Italian team under a multi-year deal. Hinchcliffe praises Hamilton for maintaining his motivation and focus, despite the looming prospect of his significant move to Ferrari.

Hinchcliffe acknowledges that it would have been understandable if Hamilton’s motivation had waned slightly, given the unusual circumstances of having already announced his departure from Mercedes. However, he points out that Hamilton’s work ethic and approach to racing have not faltered. Hamilton remains committed to ending his tenure with Mercedes on a high note, preserving the legacy of what has been the most successful team-driver partnership in the history of Formula 1.