Hamilton’s Struggles Compared to Ricciardo’s Decline: Could F1’s

Hamilton’s Struggles Compared to Ricciardo’s Decline: Could F1’s New Cars Be ……read more

Lewis Hamilton’s recent struggles in Formula 1 have drawn unexpected comparisons to Daniel Ricciardo’s downturn in performance. The Australian driver, once a prominent figure at Red Bull, was removed from the grid after the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix, his performance underwhelming throughout the season. This decision came after a series of disappointing results, which many traced back to Ricciardo’s departure from Red Bull. Now, Hamilton’s performance in his final season with Mercedes is raising similar concerns, with some wondering whether he’s facing a situation akin to Ricciardo’s fall from grace.

Marc Priestly, a former McLaren mechanic and F1 pundit, has openly questioned what has happened to the seven-time world champion, suggesting that the current generation of F1 cars could be behind both Hamilton’s and Ricciardo’s struggles. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Priestly likened Hamilton’s difficulties to those of Ricciardo, as well as to those of Sergio “Checo” Perez. He argued that these drivers haven’t suddenly lost their skill or become poor competitors, but rather, the issue lies in the nature of the current cars and how they interact with specific driving styles.

Priestly pointed out that modern F1 cars are highly specialized, requiring particular handling characteristics that are unlike anything many seasoned drivers, including Hamilton, are accustomed to. The cars are extremely sensitive, especially in terms of their setup and tire management. These factors, according to Priestly, are contributing to the difficulties experienced by drivers like Hamilton, Ricciardo, and Perez, who are struggling to extract the optimal performance from their machines.

F1 cars today are designed with very specific aerodynamic and mechanical characteristics, often demanding extremely low and stiff setups that drivers must master to get the best out of their cars. These setups can be difficult to understand and even more challenging to manage on track, especially when tire temperatures fail to reach the desired levels. A lack of tire temperature, which is crucial for optimal grip, can lead to a significant drop in performance, and once this happens, drivers enter a vicious cycle that is hard to escape from. Priestly emphasized that this issue is at the heart of Hamilton’s performance dip, which has become more noticeable as Mercedes continues to face challenges with car setup and overall competitiveness.

Hamilton, who has spent most of his career adapting to varying car characteristics, is now finding it harder to match the performance he once delivered, particularly with the ever-evolving nature of the hybrid era. As Mercedes has struggled to keep pace with top teams like Red Bull and Ferrari, Hamilton’s ability to fight for podiums has diminished. His inability to adjust quickly to the performance window of the current generation of cars—especially in terms of tire temperature and grip—has left him facing frustrating results. Mercedes’ own challenges with car performance and setup are also playing a role in this downturn, adding to Hamilton’s difficulties.

The comparison to Ricciardo’s own slump is striking. After leaving Red Bull in 2018, Ricciardo struggled to find his footing at Renault (now Alpine) and ultimately saw his career stall, culminating in his removal from AlphaTauri in 2023. Like Hamilton, Ricciardo’s driving style and approach had been finely tuned to the Red Bull car, and after that, he struggled to adapt to cars that required a different kind of finesse. In many ways, Priestly’s comments reflect the notion that a driver’s long-established style can clash with the nuances of newer, more technical cars, leading to a mismatch that prevents them from reaching the top levels of performance.

This situation has also prompted speculation about Hamilton’s future. With Mercedes planning to promote rising star Kimi Antonelli to a race seat in 2025, many have suggested that Hamilton might leave the team and join Ferrari for the 2024 season. While it remains to be seen how Hamilton will fare in a different car, the shift could give him a fresh challenge and potentially a better opportunity to adapt to a setup that suits his driving style. However, the overarching issue of car design and the difficulty in adapting to it may persist for him, just as it did for Ricciardo.

In conclusion, while Lewis Hamilton is undoubtedly one of the most talented drivers to ever grace the Formula 1 grid, his struggles in recent years could be linked to the evolving nature of the sport’s cars. As F1 continues to develop more complex and specialized vehicles, drivers like Hamilton may face increasing difficulty in maintaining their competitive edge, especially if their driving styles do not align with the technical requirements of modern cars. If Hamilton can overcome these challenges, his legacy as a champion will remain intact, but for now, he appears to be facing an uphill battle similar to that of his former rival, Daniel Ricciardo.