The past few races haven’t been easy for Mercedes AMG. At the Brazilian Grand Prix, the 7-time F1 world champion lamented that his car was at its “worst” this season.
With a lack of pace, grip issues, and a shaken confidence in his F1 car, Mercedes and Hamilton are enduring a challenging season that has already cost them the Constructors’ Championship.
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The worst car of his 17-years career
The 2024 Brazilian Grand Prix was a tough one for Hamilton, with difficult qualifying and a modest 10th-place finish. While his teammate George Russell shone on the front row, Hamilton was left to struggle in the midfield—a far cry from his usual standards, especially at Interlagos. This lack of performance led him to criticize his car, calling it the “worst car of his career.” On a technical level, the issue seems to stem from rear grip, a weakness that makes the W15 unpredictable and tough for Hamilton to drive. When a driver doesn’t trust the rear of the F1 car, it often leads to even more slipping, which worsens tire temperature issues and reduces performance.
Upgrades made in vain
Mercedes recently introduced a series of updates intended to significantly improve the W15. These adjustments began at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, but while the performance boost looks promising on paper, in practice, it seems to be causing additional problems. The car’s setup has become even more unstable, as seen with Russell’s qualifying crash and Hamilton’s early departure at Austin. With notable weaknesses in slow and successive corners—like those in sector two at Interlagos-the F1 car struggles particularly on twisty circuits. Engineers at Mercedes, led by Shovlin, haven’t yet found a fix for these issues, leaving Hamilton facing uncertainty. Discouraged, he has three more Grands Prix to endure.
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Las Vegas Grand Prix: a new testing ground
Despite the disappointing results, Hamilton remains determined to find solutions, showing his grit as a true Champion. After Brazil, he spent hours in Mercedes’ simulator alongside his team of engineers, working to pinpoint the root of the issues. Las Vegas will be the next testing ground, and with its faster layout, the circuit may offer better conditions to tap into the strengths of the W15. However, Hamilton remains grounded, acknowledging that the poor races at this season’s end are “unacceptable.” He accepts his share of responsibility and insists on the need for a collective effort to turn things around before the final Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi. In any case, his nightmare ends in 3 races, as he will join Scuderia Ferrari for the 2025 season.
This article explores the struggles faced by Hamilton and Mercedes, the impact of recent W15 updates at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, and the search for solutions to salvage the end of the season, starting from the next race in Las Vegas on November 23, 2024.
Images : Mercedes AMG F1 team archives
