Lewis Hamilton is enduring a difficult final season at Mercedes in 2024, with there being three more races until he puts on the red colours of Ferrari in Formula 1.
The seven-time world champion has been very vocal about his frustrations with his Mercedes machinery in the ground effect era – especially this season, with the Brit currently in his lowest position in the drivers’ standings in seventh.
Hamilton made his frustrations abundantly clear at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Crossing the line 10th after being eliminated in Q1, the Brit was heard over the radio hinting at it being the last time he gets to perform with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok was ‘genuinely confused’ by Hamilton’s comments as many tried to interpret what he meant over his radio. The 39-year-old’s lack of confidence in the team was made apparent at the Las Vegas Grand Prix when he admitted that he actually did see himself not competing in the final three races of 2024.
Lewis Hamilton is ‘really hurting’ from his qualifying performances
Many can see that the Brit’s confidence is shot to pieces, with Rachel Brookes noting one thing in particular that is ‘really hurting’ Hamilton at the moment.
At the Las Vegas Grand Prix, the W15 has shown great pace so far as Hamilton and teammate George Russell were in the top three in FP1 and FP2, with the former topping the times in both.
Martin Brundle had to take a ‘step back’ as he was stunned by the speed Hamilton was carrying through turn three. It was something that the Brit had not shown in Sao Paulo, with Karun Chandhok saying it was ‘nice to see’ Hamilton have confidence in his car.
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Unfortunately, it has been common for Hamilton to show some promise in practice for then it all to come crashing down in qualifying. The 39-year-old as failed to reach Q2 in two of the last three races.
For Brookes, this is what is ‘really hurting’ for the Brit as he now finds himself behind his teammate in the drivers’ standings.
“He’s just been overtaken [by Russell] in the drivers’. But when I speak to him, the impression I get from him is that qualifying is really hurting him right now,” she said via Sky Sports F1 during FP1.
George Russell has comprehensively beaten Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes in 2024
The inconsistent nature of the Mercedes machine has hampered Hamilton’s quest to end his incredible stint with the Silver Arrows on a high. Hamilton has finished in the top five only eight times this season – the first coming nine races in at the Canadian Grand Prix.
The 39-year-old has struggled in comparison to his teammate. Russell has been ‘stronger’ than Hamilton in qualifying as he leads the seven-time champion by a resounding 15-6.
Russell, who will have Italian sensation Kimi Antonelli as his teammate next year, also leads Hamilton 13-6 in the race battle – a seven-race swing from 2023.
With a new adventure with Ferrari on the horizon, Hamilton will be hoping the move to the Maranello outfit will see a much-needed change in fortune.
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