Lewis Hamilton might have found it difficult to stay motivated in recent years. Following the events of Abu Dhabi 2021, Mercedes slipped out of title contention.
An error from FIA race director Michael Masi denied Hamilton an unprecedented eighth world championship. If he had designs on revenge the following year, Mercedes weren’t quick enough to bring them to fruition.
Instead, his old rivals Max Verstappen and Red Bull took over as F1’s dominant team. Even this year, with the Milton Keynes outfit suddenly vulnerable, Ferrari and above all McLaren have done a better job at capitalising.
Mercedes have been the fourth-fastest team in F1 this year and they could fall more than 200 points behind new constructors’ championship leaders McLaren following this weekend’s United States Grand Prix. They’ve only managed seven podiums all year.
Indeed, a top-three finish is often the absolute best either Hamilton or George Russell can hope for. At times, they simply have to be content with top six.
Hamilton is the most successful driver in the sport’s history but he’s only been able to win twice in the past two-and-three-quarter seasons. Even then, he didn’t gain the full satisfaction of victory in Belgium, with Russell standing on the top step before he was disqualified for breaching the weight limit.
Lewis Hamilton has rediscovered his ‘grit’ before Ferrari move, Mario Andretti says
Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, American F1 legend Mario Andretti said Hamilton looked reinvigorated by his upcoming Ferrari move. He’s seen an increase in ‘desire’ from the Englishman.
Hamilton will be determined to end his record-breaking stint at Mercedes on an appropriate high. And beyond that, he’ll feel his first move in 12 years will give him the platform to win an eighth title.
Race winner Lewis Hamilton (2nd right) of Great Britain and McLaren appears on the podium with second placed Sebastian Vettel (left) of Germany and…
1978 world champion Andretti pointed out that Hamilton rarely had to ‘fight’ during Mercedes’ dominance given their margin over the paddock. But the field is now so close that he has to be more aggressive.
“As for Lewis, who will arrive in Maranello in 2025, I noticed that he has rediscovered the grit and desire to fight that he had lost a bit when Mercedes dominated,” Andretti said. “It will be interesting to see him at the wheel of the Ferrari.
‘More than one’ engine expert has said something exciting about Lewis Hamilton’s 2026 Ferrari
Mercedes have held Hamilton back, according to a recent report, by asking him to experiment with the set-up of the car for much of the past three years. They’ve been trying to broaden their car’s notoriously narrow working window.
The problem is, when it gets to qualifying and he needs to push flat-out, he’s less comfortable operating at the car’s limit. Hamilton also struggles to generate tyre temperature on a fully gripped-up track.
Ferrari haven’t totally understood their car either. They’ve enjoyed some spectacular highs this year including Charles Leclerc’s wins in Monaco and Italy, but they haven’t been able to sustain those levels.
But things have become ever so slightly stale in Brackley, with Toto Wolff looking forward to Kimi Antonelli’s arrival this winter. Ferrari and Mercedes should have the best engines in 2026, ‘more than one’ engine expert has said, so Hamilton could find himself battling his former team for the title.
Leave a Reply