Last Updated on March 11 2024, 3:18 pm

Despite all the media training and years of Formula One experience, when being interviewed live Lewis Hamilton is often an open book. The seven times world champion has always worn his heart on his sleeve and speaking his mind has in the past gotten him into trouble.

Lewis courted controversy when he famously joked that his frequent calls to visit the stewards at each of the first six rounds of the 2011 F1 season was “maybe its because I’m black.” Yet in the intervening years, Lewis has openly campaigned for greater inclusion within the sport and for an increase in diversity at all levels.

 

 

 

Hamilton: “we.. chase our dreams”

Hamilton was embroiled in a six month wrangle with Mercedes over the renewal of his contract last year. Toto Wolff suggested at the 2023 W14 launch that no deal had yet been done because He and Lewis had been in different countries over the winter. Further there Mercedes boss suggested it would on require “a couple of hours” arm wrestling and the “white smoke” would emerge from their negotiations.

Of course this was not the case and only after the summer break and now ironically on the eve of the Italian Grand Prix was the new Hamilton contract announced.  “We have never been hungrier to win,” Hamilton stated on August 31st. “We have learnt from every success but also every setback.

“We continue to chase our dreams, we continue to fight no matter the challenge and we will win again.

“I’m grateful to the team who have supported me both on and off the track. Our story isn’t finished, we are determined to achieve more together and we won’t stop until we do.”

Wolff fuels Max to Mercedes rumour

 

 

 

Hamilton contract insufficient

Yet to the written media Lewis was strangely at pains to state this would not be his last contract in Formula One. All the previous talk from Wolff and Hamilton had been of him finishing his career at Mercedes, so the question begged was why was Lewis already focused on his next driver deal?

Reading the tea leaves it appears Mercedes refused to countenance more than a new deal that proved to be for just one year with an option for a second. Hamilton’s management team had let it be known he was looking for one that lasted five years, so why the disparity?

Mercedes had one eye on the future without their star driver and clearly refused to commit to the longer time frame Hamilton wanted. From Lewis’ perspective he probably knew the next two years would be spent trailing in the wake of a Red Bull built Newey racing machine and only in 2026 when the new power units would be introduced cold he hope for a shot at the record eight drivers’ world title.

Without the uncertainty that Mercedes would retain him until 2026 is clearly the reason Hamilton reopened conversations with Ferrari while which had begun during his six month arm wrestle with Mercedes.

Horner makes €700,000 payment to female accuser

 

 

 

2024 Mercedes a ‘changed concept?’

Yet Lewis is ever the pragmatist and turning his back on Mercedes who have sponsored his entire F1 career as an act of spite, is not something the British driver would do. Hamilton was led to believe Mercedes were dropping the failed car design concept of 2022/23 and as Toto Wolff said at the close of the season.

“We’re changing the concept, we’re completely moving away from how we laid out the chassis, the weight distribution, the air flow. Literally, there’s almost every component being changed, because only by doing that, I think we have a chance,” claimed the Mercedes boss shortly after securing P2 in the constructors race at the Abu Dhabi finale.

Yet in Saudi Arabia Lewis was not convinced this is the case. Asked by Sky F1 how difficult it was to extract the qualifying lap he wanted from the W15 in Jeddah, Hamilton replied: “I mean, it’s similar to previous years I would say.”

“It’s frustrating for sure to be in three years in a row in almost the same position. It’s definitely tough but we will get our heads down and keep working away, and I know everyone back at the factory is pushing as hard as they can,” said Hamilton who looked resigned to his winless fate for yet another season.

Bearman F1 seat after impressive debut

 

 

 

Ferrari move connected?

Based on performance and results, Mercedes have built the fourth best car for this year with McLaren and Ferrari having outscored them so far. And should Aston Martin have ditched the bosses son who crashed out in Saudi Arabi, they too may be ahead of Mercedes as is Fernando ahead of Lewis in the driver standings.

Oh how the once invincible Mercedes juggernaut has ground to a halt and without the safety car caused by Stroll in Jeddah, Lewis would most likely have finished more than 50 seconds behind Verstappen – in a 50 lap race.

When Lewis announced his move to Ferrari he implied to have no idea how good or bad the 2024 Mercedes W15 would be. Yet given his poor form against team mate George Russell after just two rounds, murmurs of Lewis’ head already being in Maranello have become to surface.

But speculation grew over the weekend that Hamilton knew before deciding on Ferrari that this seasons Mercedes’ would struggle at times even for points.

Horner gives Max a stark ultimatum

 

 

 

“He did know”

Rookie Sky F1 presenter who raced in the failed W series claimed Hamilton had no idea the W15 wold be bad before deciding to leave for the Scuderia.

“It seems they came into the season with really high hopes. Maybe they didn’t have the outright pace to beat the Red Bulls but, after testing, there was ambition from them that they’d be the best of the rest, maybe with Ferrari. That hasn’t played out yet,” said Naomi Schiff.

Ex-F1 driver and expert commentator and analyst Karun Chandhok quickly cut her down: “I am going to disagree. I think he did know. What they put out there – the messages of positivity – are one thing. But I think he knew that it’s going to be a tough year.”

Former Aston Martin strategist Bernie Collins agreed with Chandhok, “He was saying that for all of last year, as well,” she explained. “Possibly, that’s one of the reasons why he’s moving teams.

Mercedes F1 brain drain continues

 

 

 

Lewis “lost faith” in Mercedes

“He’s still not happy in the car. You can see the set-up changes that they made yesterday, really uncomfortable. The high speed looks terrible. You can other cars just pulling away from him. There is a bit of work to be done there.”

Hamilton the pragmatist will know he needs to be positive to receive the full backing of the Mercedes team for the longest ever season in Formula One. Yet he knows how good Red Bull are at in season development and is clearly of the opinion this will be another lost year for him even in terms of a race victory.

Just over six months ago Lewis claimed: “Our story isn’t finished, we are determined to achieve more together and we won’t stop until we do.” But something changed Hamilton’s mind and it seems likely it was his “lost faith” and another poor year ahead that decided he will be wearing red next season.

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