Last Updated on November 30 2024, 12:09 pm
Lewis Hamilton became emotional during the media rounds on Thursday in Qatar. He was recalling a conversation he had with his long standing engineer Pete Bonnington when it dawned on him he had just over a week remaining with his Mercedes family of twelve years.
The British driver shocked the F1 world when he announced in 2021 he was leaving the established McLaren F1 team for new kids on the block Mercedes. However, the German back squad had a surprise for the F1 establishment as they piled vast amounts of resource into the research and development of the new V6 turbo hybrid power unit.
The total was reported at around $1b which far surpassed the amounts pumped into the programmes at Ferrari and Renault. Formula One returned to being dominated by power once again as it had done in the 1980’s and 1990’s.
Hamilton suffers humilatiation
With new power unit regulations coming into force in 2026, the FIA have learned from the last rule change and limited the power unit manufacturers to a budget on their R&D spend this time. Restricted is testing time and total spend, although new entrants Audi and Red Bull-Ford have bigger allowances given their previous lack of experience in this field.
Lewis Hamilton will be hoping for a turnaround in fortunes when he arrives in Maranello next year given this season may yet prove to be his worst finish of his formula One career. He is 17-5 down to his team mate George Russell in qualifying and currently sits seventh in the drivers’ championship.
The seven times world champion has left Mercedes because presumably he didn’t feel in this era they can build a car capable of challenging for titles. Add into the mix the domination by his team mate and Lewis will be hoping for a reset when he rocks up in Italy.
As it stands McLaren are the present favourites to take the F1 constructors’ title this year, something they last achieved back in 1998. The papaya liveried team is 24 points ahead of Ferrari who after Friday practice and Sprint qualifying look to be off the pace of their rivals from Woking.
Norris laughs at Verstappen claim
McLaren favourites for 2025
Ending the season on top will mean Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will be amongst the favourites to win the drivers’ title next year although few would bet against the maestro that is Verstappen even were he to be in inferior machinery.
With 2025 being the final year of the current car design regulations, the convergence amongst the top teams is expected to continue. This could mean there are eight drivers fighting for wins and the title although whoever is Max Verstappen’s team mate will be the least favourite amongst the top four team’s drivers.
However, whilst Red Bull have suffered in the constructors’ championship this season, the one sided nature of the scoring amongst their drivers is the reason Max has claimed his fourth consecutive title this season. At McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes both drivers have taken multiple race victories and in effect take points from each other.
George Russell will find himself across the garage from rookie Kimi Antonelli who will be on a steep learning curve. This may prove decisive should Mercedes be competitive with the other front runners as George would be expected to dominate his young Italian team mate.
Horner reveals Verstappen ‘special’ secret
Marko predicts Ferrari pair will damage each others title hopes
Speaking to Dutch news outlet De Telegraf, Dr. Helmut Marko has outlined a key advantage for Verstappen in the push for a world record five consecutive F1 titles, a feat only matched by German ace Michael Schumacher (2000-2004).
“Next year it will all be even closer together, I expect,” said Marko. “That’s what happens when the regulations are exhausted. But I do think that at Ferrari Hamilton and Leclerc will take points from each other, and at McLaren Norris and Piastri too. At Mercedes we have to wait and see how stable they are.”
Lewis is finishing on a low at Mercedes and his lack of pace in Qatar on Friday was stark. While his team mate was surprisingly within half a tenth of pole sitter Lando Norris, Hamilton down in P7 was almost half a second off the pace of the McLaren.
When asked about his evening in Lusail, Hamilton revealed his W15 had not been problematic as it has at other venues this year.
Jos Verstappen “about turn” over Perez
Little is positive for Lewis
“Same as every other qualifying, not that great,” Hamilton said of his session after the session. “I’m just slow, same every weekend. Car felt relatively decent, no issues, and not really much more to say.
“The long run didn’t feel too bad, but when you’re always back where I am, it makes it very hard to be competing – well, almost impossible, pretty much – to be competing for wins from there. But that’s the Sprint, I’ll do what I can tomorrow,” said the downbeat Hamilton.
Lewis was asked if there was anything positive he could take from the session he replied curtly, “Not particularly, no. I mean, the positive is that the car is fast, and George should be able to shoot for pole tomorrow.”
Such is the reverence with which Hamilton is held in the paddock one questioner could not believe the fault was with Hamilton. “We know this isn’t a ‘you’ thing”, he suggested only to receive the surprise admission that time is taking its toll.
SHOCK admission from Hamilton
“Who knows? I’m definitely not fast anymore,” replied a bemused Lewis Hamilton. Way back in Monaco Lewis had identified his relative lack of pace in qualifying when compared to his team mate.
“I anticipated it would be difficult to out qualify George because he has the upgraded component, but it’s great to see we are bringing upgrades,” Hamilton said. “Once we got to Qualifying, I don’t understand. I already know automatically that I’m going to lose two-tenths [of a second] going into Qualifying. That’s definitely frustrating and something I don’t have an answer for.”
Then Lewis made a strange prediction which has pretty much come true. “I don’t anticipate being ahead of George in Qualifying this year,” and when asked why responded: “We will see.”
At Ferrari Hamilton’s challenge will be no easier next year given Charles Leclerc is particularly fast over one lap too. He currently leads his team mate Carlos Sainz in Grand Prix qualifying by 13-7 and in Sprint qualifying the tally is 3-2 in favour of the Monegasque.
Verstappen concerned about his pace
F1 race director changes the rules for Qatar
The new Formula One racer director, Rui Marques made his debut at the las Vegas Grand Prix last time out. This followed the shock sacking of Neils Wittich. By the FIA with just three races to go.
The drivers were upset with the FIA for failing to include them in discussions over Wittich departure with many saying they learned the news through the F1 media.
Wittich was part of a double act back in 2022 when he rotated the role of F1 race director with Edward Freitas. However, the latter made what could have been a fatal mistake at the rain drenched Japanese Grand Prix that year, instructing a recovery vehicle to enter the circuit while cars were still hurtling through the spray at speeds over 200kph… READ MORE
With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
