JUST IN : Huge Hamilton LOSS revealed after Mercedes...

Huge Hamilton LOSS revealed after Mercedes exit

A significant loss for Lewis Hamilton in the 2024 Formula 1 season has been revealed following his departure from Mercedes. The seven-time world champion’s final year with the team was marked by mixed results. While Hamilton managed to secure a remarkable victory at Silverstone, he faced considerable frustration throughout the season. His performance with the W15 car, which often left him lagging behind, and his inconsistent pace contributed to a sense of disappointment. One of the major talking points from 2024 was Hamilton’s struggles in qualifying, where he was consistently outperformed by his younger teammate, George Russell.

Hamilton, at 39 years old, found himself bested by Russell in 19 of the season’s qualifying sessions. Despite Hamilton’s immense experience and past successes, Russell managed to finish ahead of him in the overall standings, taking sixth place in the drivers’ championship, while Hamilton was left in a lower position. This was a stark contrast to the past, where Hamilton’s qualifications and race performances had typically been exceptional. Following a particularly underwhelming qualifying session in Qatar, Hamilton openly admitted that he felt he was no longer as fast as he once was, sparking concerns about his future performance, especially with his anticipated move to Ferrari.

Ralf Schumacher,

a former Formula 1 driver and current pundit for Sky Germany, shed light on the reasons behind the noticeable gap between Hamilton and Russell. Schumacher explained that younger drivers tend to have more capacity to adapt to new cars and technologies. He emphasized that a younger driver, such as Russell, better understands the limits of a car and is able to adjust to these boundaries with the assistance of the engineering team. Schumacher further highlighted that a driver’s ability to work effectively with engineers to extract maximum performance from a car is crucial, and this is an area where younger drivers often have the upper hand.

Schumacher also noted that experienced drivers like Hamilton had historically been successful in cars that suited their driving style, as these cars were designed around different regulations. However, with new regulations and technological changes, adapting to the car’s evolving performance and understanding its nuances has become more challenging, especially for older, seasoned drivers. Despite his vast achievements, Hamilton struggled to adapt to the demands of the 2024 Mercedes car, which ultimately reflected in his results and overall performance.

As the season progressed, it became evident that Hamilton’s previous dominance, particularly in his prime years with Mercedes, was under threat from younger, more adaptable drivers like Russell. While Hamilton’s wealth of experience remains an invaluable asset, the 2024 season illustrated how difficult it is to maintain peak performance when facing changing technical landscapes and the rise of younger, more agile competitors. This situation raises questions about Hamilton’s future in F1, particularly in his move to Ferrari, where the dynamics and challenges are expected to be different.

The revelation of Hamilton’s struggles in 2024 serves as a reminder of how even the greatest drivers face challenges as they age and as the sport evolves, especially when it comes to adapting to new cars and technologies. The loss Hamilton suffered in 2024, both in terms of qualifying results and overall performance, reflects the difficulties he faced in keeping up with younger competitors like Russell, and this shift could mark the beginning of a new era in Formula 1.