Last Updated on March 14 2024, 4:44 pm

Lewis Hamilton was always in for a tough year following his announcement before the season began, he would be leaving for Ferrari next season. As time wears on Mercedes will exclude him from certain meetings where the topic is the development of their 2025 F1 challenger.

The seven times world champion has now been out qualified by team mate George Russell in the last four consecutive Grand Prix meetings and finished ahead of Lewis in the last three races.

 

 

 

Hamilton struggling to match team mate

Hamilton was a quarter of a second slower on his best flying lap than Russell in Bahrain, though he closed this the following week to just 0.15 seconds but Lewis almost eliminated by rookie Oli Bearman who came in a mere 0.036 seconds behind the Mercedes driver.

George has 18 points to Hamilton’s 8 as the British driver has his worst start to an F season in more than a decade. 

Following the chequered flag in Jeddah, Hamilton’s early season optimism appear to have all but expired as he resigned himself to the fact he was fighting for P9 and just a cowpoke of points. 

For practice three Lewis had taken a completely different setup direction to his team mate opting for a higher downforce rear wing in an effort to create more rear end stability. At the time Sky F1 commentator Karen Chandhok was surprised a this decision because the final practice session should be about refining the car setup, not trying something radically different.

Hamilton “knew” Mercedes car was poor before Ferrari decision

 

 

 

Lewis struggles with car setup

“We went in different directions today,” Hamilton admitted, “trying different things to find the right solution for the car, but yeah, all I want is a stable rear and then I’ll be happy, so that’s what we are working on.”

Lewis switched back to the Russell setup for qualifying but could only manage a time good enough to start the race on Saturday in North place.

When asked how the car had felt during the Grand Prix, Hamilton shrugged, paused for thought then in a resigned fashion replied: “It’s frustrating for sure to be three years in a row in almost the same position.” 

Toto Wolff had suggested this year’s car would have an all new DNA, but Lewis appears to question whether this is there case again calling for the factory to bring “some big changes.”

Marko claims Horner secretly dined Max replacement up

 

 

 

Alonso’s manager says Lewis “doesn’t put in much effort”

Fernando Alonso’s manager, Flavio Briatore, has questioned whether Lewis is the right man to loft Ferrari form their years of failing to win.

“The car must improve,” Briatore told Italian broadcaster Rai 1. “With those gaps, no driver can make the difference. If Hamilton was already at Ferrari today, he would do the same things as Leclerc, who is a fast driver, although often underestimated.”

The Italian went on to say what many F1 observers must be thinking by questioning whether Lewis as good as he is can beat Charles Leclerc in the same machinery.

“In the end, he might struggle to stay ahead of Charles because he is one of those drivers who doesn’t put much effort into it if the car isn’t good,” said Briatore.

Max frozen out of RBR meetings while threat of leaving remains

 

 

 

Ex Red Bull driver criticises Hamilton

Hamilton did win a number of his championships in a car that was uber dominant, but his team mates were closer to him then Perez – who is comparable to Bottas – is to Max. Lewis was famously beaten to the 2016 title by underrated driver Nico Rosberg.

Briatore isn’t the only senior F1 figure questioning Lewis’ commitment to what looks like a tough year ahead for Mercedes. At present they are fourth best behind Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren, but with Fernando Alonso already scoring more points than Lewis, even Aston Martin could be ahead of Mercedes if they didn’t have one lame wing man in Lance Stroll.

Following his P9 finish in Jeddah behind rookie Ali Bearman, David Coulthard ex F1 driver suggested Lewis has already checked out of Mercedes.

“He’s just not been settled with this car,” he told Channel 4. “And you can tell, you know, George is just honing the lap time right now and you can feel that Lewis is on the back foot.

Marko fires a shot across Ricciardo’s bows

 

 

 

Ferrari boss did not want Hamilton

“What we do know though, if he does find a window of performance, then you know he will deliver. But right now, it’s looking like his decision to head off to Ferrari, mentally, he is already there.”

Yet Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur may be concerned over his future driver lineup for 2025. Italian media have suggested Hamilton was recruited over Fred’s head as president of the company, John Elian, made a personal invitation to the Brit.

Hamilton has only been beaten by a team mate three times in his illustrious 17 years in Formula One. Yet George Russell looks at present as though his will make that four defeats and he will be the team mate to better Hamilton over there course of their partnership.

The problem for Lewis is he has not adapted the feel of the new F1 ground effect cars which are in their third iteration this year. When ground effect was previously allowed in F1, the cars did bounce more than with other designs, and the centre of pressure under the floor does move forwards and backwards at an arming speed.

Red Bull RB20 looks to new 2026 car design regs

 

 

 

Hamilton has no faith Mercedes will catch RBR

It is this characteristic which Lewis complains about more than anything else over the past three years. He did again to Sky F1’s Rachael Brooks claiming it affected the ride height and meant he lacked confidence in the car.

Hamilton admitted he has doubts Mercedes will be able to make enough progress to challenge Red Bull even next season. “We’re one second away,” he said. “It’s like, crazy.

“To close that gap before next year, at this point to still be a second down on a track like this is definitely worrying for us as a team.”

Its is exactly this kind of opinion which is raising eyebrows in the F1 paddock and surely causing concern for Ferrari as to the metal state Hamilton will be in when he joins the Scuderia for 2025.

F1 sale price now with $40bn price tag

 

 

 

Ferrari 2 year contract may become problematic

Lewis will presumably have a nailed on 2 year contract with Ferrari given uncertainty over his Mercedes future was one of the  reasons he decided to leave the team. Mercedes last year we no know inly offered Lewis a one year contract with a one year extension option.

This cause Fernando Alonso to jump ship from Alpine to Aston Martin last season as the Silverstone team offered him a nailed on two year guarantee beyond the wheel.

So if Hamilton can’t raise his game, Ferrari alarm bells should be going off given they will have him driving until the end of 2026. Meanwhile their superstar academy driver Oli Bearman may well get an offer from either Mercedes, Red Bull or Aston Martin which would force him to abandon any long term plans Ferrari have to get him into their car for 2027.

Ferrari ambitious bid to dethrone Red Bull

 

 

 

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