Lewis Hamilton’s 2024 F1 season was a very mixed bag, but he did at least get to sign off from his time at Mercedes with a few victories.
In doing so, he managed to end a near three-year winless streak dating back to the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix, where he was fighting for an eighth world championship with Max Verstappen.
Disappointingly, he suffered three Q1 eliminations during his last six races with the Silver Arrows – more than he suffered during his first 270 Formula 1 races.
But he moves on to pastures new with Ferrari for 2025, lining up alongside Charles Leclerc within a team that has been trending in a winning direction for a while.
Jolyon Palmer says Lewis Hamilton has been hit by ‘something strange’ in 2024
Teammate George Russell has schooled Hamilton a bit in 2024, winning the qualifying battle including the sprints by a margin of 24-6.
It represents a decline in the seven-time champion’s one-lap pace – a worry for someone who turns 40 years old next year, whose best years are probably in the past.
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Speaking on BBC Sport’s Chequered Flag podcast, Jolyon Palmer believes that something weird happened to Hamilton in 2024.
“There are unknowns to be honest, at the end of this season. Because he’s been overall beaten by George Russell fairly well, particularly over one lap,” he said. “We know how quick Charles Leclerc is over one lap as well, so it’s going to get no easier for him next year.
“In fact, on paper it’ll be tougher for him, going into Leclerc’s team, an Italian team, he’ll have to make new relationships. I still think he’s got more to offer.
“Something strange has been happening with Lewis this year – 12 months ago, he seemed to be still at his peak, this time he’s not. He had a great drive today coming through to fourth and that was really nice to see him bow out with his relationships with Bono, with Toto Wolff on a high.”
Why Hamilton shouldn’t worry too much about his 2025 situation
Regardless of how much he has struggled and may continue to on a Saturday, Sunday is where the points are won – and that is where Hamilton remains as great as he has ever been.
He could’ve won the Las Vegas Grand Prix, his team’s poor calculations denied him a farewell podium at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and he won a record ninth British Grand Prix.
There’s plenty of speed there to utilise, he just needs a bit of a reset and a new challenge to help spark a run at an eighth world championship.
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He knows new team boss Fred Vasseur well from his junior racing days with ART, so that’s a good foundation for him to start with.
The Ferrari car also happens to be quicker than the Mercedes he is leaving behind right now on paper too, so the trajectory of things around him is in a good direction.
All he needs to do is make sure to take some time away this winter, and come back refreshed ahead of 2025, and ready for a title charge.
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