Last Updated on December 15 2024, 10:34 am

Lewis Hamilton is the only Formula One driver alongside the revered Michael Schumacher who has collected seven world titles, which arguably could have been either six or eight. His time with Mercedes saw a period of dominance never seen in the sport’s 74 year long history.

Mercedes collected a record eight consecutive constructor titles beating the previous record set by Schumacher and Ferrari at the turn of the century. The British driver holds a collection of records including his 105 Grand Prix wins which he topped up by two this year having endured the longest run in F1 without a win.

Hamilton’s glittering career sees him hold many of F1’s records of success being the only driver to win nine times at the same circuit and Grand Prix in Silverstone. He also holds the record for the number of pole positions (9) at the same venue in Budapest.

 

 

 

Hamilton’s record second to none

Lewis has the most podiums of all time (202), themes wins with the same constructor (84), the most front row starts (176), most wins with the same constructor (84), most starts with the same constructor (240 – Mercedes) and most wins with the same constructor (84) together with a host of other best in category statistics.

Yet Hamilton’s final year in partnership with Mercedes was almost an unmitigated disaster. Yes Lewis claimed victory in Silverstone and Belgium, the latter following the disqualification of his team mate who took the chequered flag first, but his seventh place in the drivers’ world championship was his worst finish ever during his 17 year long F1 career.

The seven times champion was widely expected to complete his F1 journey with Mercedes when he signed what was portrayed as a multi-year deal late last season. Yet come the new year, Hamilton was announcing his decision to leave the silver arrows team and move to Ferrari for 2025. Clearly he was unimpressed with the one year guaranteed offer that Toto Wolff had made to him.

Despite his relative lack of experience in F1, the Mercedes boss had identified what he believed to be the “shelf life” of his star driver and once again the ruthless nature of F1 was exposed. Turning to Ferrari, Lewis is arriving at a team whose boss was not behind the coup to bring him to Italy. It was in fact Ferrari group president John Elkann who took the enquiry and handled the negotiations.

Cadillac blow as F1 driver “not interested”

 

 

 

2026 F1 cars may suit Lewis better

How this will play out in times of turmoil within the team is anyone’s guess but Fred Vasseur has backed his Monegasque driver since he joined the team as the unofficial number one, something Hamilton will not be afforded.

Lewis does have what Mercedes refused to offer, which is a guaranteed contract which runs to the end of 2026. This is crucial for the seven times world champion as it means he will get one season of racing in the new breed of cars coming in 2026.

The British racing driver has struggled since the FIA introduced the ground effect cars in 2022. After once again qualifying well behind his team mate in Qatar, a dejected Hamilton told reporters in the media pen “I’m slow in general,” adding he was “a half-second off my team-mate in the same car.”

When told of his driver’s comments, team boss Toto Wolff told F1 TV: “I’m certain that it’s not true. It’s just this generation of cars, particularly how the car is now. It’s just something that he likes, he’s a late braker, he carries a lot of speed on the entry to the corner and the car doesn’t take it. 

Another driver set for dismissal at Alpine

 

 

 

Schumacher sees risk of Lewis early exit

“You can see him inking out, taking more and more time intellectually, and trying to find more performance. We need to give him a car that’s to his liking. He’s very team-oriented, doesn’t say anything, but he’s not happy with the car.”

Daniel Ricciardo was described by Martin Brundle as “the last of the late great brakers” and he too has struggled in this era of ground effect cars which are less stable than their predecessors.

Ferrari gave Lewis the lifeline Mercedes refused to do and have ensured he will be driving in 2026 when the car design specification undergoes another radical change. However, Ralph Schumacher now calls into question whether Lewis will even make it that far before he decides to quit the sport.

Asked if there’s a risk that Hamilton won’t fulfil the first two years of his contract, Schumacher told Sport1: “The danger is there if everything goes negatively. I think that if Lewis realises that he is no longer living up to his own expectations, he will say so.”

Verstappen faces suspension for the first 11 races of 2025

 

 

 

Scrutiny of the Italian media

Something Hamilton has never experienced in his glittering F1 career is the scrutiny of the Italian press. The relationship between the owners of La Stampa and the Ferrari family is unique. The renown Italian publication has been the mouthpiece for the family, often reporting the demise of drivers and team bosses before them being told in person.

Further, Ferrari are like an Italian national team in the fervour they command from the Tifosi. When its going well they ride the crest of a popular wave of enthusiasm. When its going badly, well thats another story.

Ralf knows all too well how fickle the Italian media can be. They were upset with the time it was taking for Jean Todd to turn the tea around and called for his head, but Michael Schumacher doubled down creating an ‘us against the world’ mentality within the Scuderia, which eventually took them to six glorious constructor titles along with five for the legendary German racer.

Why? The Perez announcement….

 

 

 

Hamilton has six month honeymoon period

When asked how long Hamilton will enjoy a honeymoon with the Italian media, Ralf was direct. “The expectations are high, and so are the emotions. You won’t have patience for more than six months if things aren’t going well.

“He’s not used to the pressure from outside. In Italy, the clocks tick a little differently. Even in Michael’s time, they wanted to fire Jean Todt when the successes took too long.

“Michael prevented that and it ended up being a happy ending. Unfortunately, I doubt that will happen with Lewis. But maybe he’ll be lucky and the car will suit him. Then everything could turn out very well. But I have my doubts.”

Lewis was denied by Mercedes the opportunity to test the current Ferrari car at the post season test session. His first outing is likely to be in the 2023 Ferrari F1 car at a private test at the legendary Ferrari owned circuit in Fiorano in January.

FIA president makes fresh demands

 

 

 

FIA publish 2025 entry list, with Perez on the grid

The FIA has published the Formula One entry list for 2025 which reveals just one of the teams is changing its name. Stake F1 team Kick Sauber remains the complicated name for the what is set to become the Audi works team in 2026 as the Swiss based team remains two title sponsors.

Stake and Kick came into F1 to replace Alfa Romeo who withdrew when Audi acquired the team to avoid what would have been a conflict of interest. Yet in certain countries where the promotion of gambling companies is not permitted, the team used the logos of Stake’s sister company Kick, even producing a special livery for the Belgian GP. Kick was also on the cars in Australia, Spain and Qatar.

The team’s semi-permanent stand in boss, Alunni Bravi explained the situation in Australia when the names were first switched: “As you know, we alternate two different names according to the different countries where we go racing. We will be fully complying with all the local applicable laws and where Stake is prohibited, so gambling advertising is prohibited, we will use a different name.”…. READ MORE