Mercedes suggest Hamilton ‘relief’ after...

Mercedes suggest Hamilton ‘relief’ after… Read More

Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin has revealed that while Lewis Hamilton’s recent return to winning form has been a “relief” for the seven-time Formula 1 champion, it hasn’t led to a drastic change in his demeanor or approach. Hamilton, who had been enduring a 56-race, 31-month winless streak, finally broke through with a victory at Silverstone in July, his first since the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. This triumph was especially significant as it came in front of his home crowd, marking an emotional high point in what has been a challenging period for the 39-year-old driver.

Following his Silverstone success, Hamilton went on to secure another victory at Spa-Francorchamps, closing out the first part of the 2024 F1 season on a high. As Hamilton prepares for his final 10 races with Mercedes before his move to Ferrari at the end of the year, Shovlin believes the recent victories have provided a sense of closure for the British driver.

“I wouldn’t say a drastic change,” Shovlin remarked when asked if Hamilton’s recent wins had significantly altered his mindset. He emphasized that while the victories have undoubtedly boosted Hamilton’s confidence, they haven’t dramatically changed his overall approach. “I think it’s probably a relief for him, and it means he’s not asking that question of will he win again.”

Shovlin also highlighted the importance of these wins for the Mercedes team as a whole. The start of the 2024 season had been challenging, with the team struggling to keep pace with their rivals. Initially, Mercedes had the fourth-fastest car on the grid, and until George Russell’s podium finish in Montreal, their best results had been fifth-place finishes. However, the significant development of the W15 car over the past two months has led to a remarkable turnaround.

With three victories in the four races leading up to the summer break, Mercedes has reestablished itself as a competitive force in the championship. This resurgence has been crucial not only for the team’s morale but also for their drivers’ outlook on the remainder of the season.

Shovlin noted that both Hamilton and Russell have recognized that the recent improvements have given them a car capable of winning races under the right conditions. “I think the bigger one [change], with both of the drivers [Hamilton and Russell], is they’ve recently realized that if the track’s right, we’ve got a car that can win races,” Shovlin explained. “As we saw in Silverstone, and we’ve got a car that, for the last five races, has been fighting for podiums on merit.”

This newfound competitiveness has injected fresh energy into the team as they head into the final rounds of the season. For Hamilton, in particular, the recent victories represent a fitting way to conclude his illustrious career with Mercedes, adding more trophies to his already impressive collection. As Shovlin put it, “the career he’s had with the team is one that would be more aptly finished with a few more trophies rather than a flat finish.”

As Hamilton embarks on his Mercedes farewell tour, the focus will be on maintaining this momentum and securing further successes before he dons the Ferrari colors in 2025. The final chapters of his Mercedes story are being written with the kind of triumph and competitiveness that have defined his legendary career.