Lewis Hamilton, the British driver for Mercedes AMG in Formula 1, has expressed the need for significant changes to be made to the team’s W15 car after a disappointing start to the 2024 season. Hamilton acknowledged that concerns about engine cooling had hindered the car’s performance in the first two races in Bahrain. Despite optimism that the revamped car would perform well in Jeddah, Hamilton struggled throughout the weekend and finished in ninth place, three positions behind his teammate George Russell. Hamilton’s chances of improving his position were dashed when the team chose not to pit him during a safety car period caused by Lance Stroll’s crash on Lap 7. Hamilton defended the team’s decision, stating that it was worth trying something different and that he was fighting hard to make progress. However, he was unfortunate not to benefit from another safety car intervention later in the race. Hamilton also mentioned that there was not much difference in performance between the medium and hard tire compounds, making it challenging to regain lost time. Despite hoping for better performance from the soft compound, Hamilton noted that there was no significant degradation on the hard tire.
Hamilton was positioned closely behind Norris in the final stages but was unable to maintain proximity to the McLaren through the fast turns in the initial section.
He argues that the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix revealed that Mercedes must put in even more effort to close the gap that left him feeling “in a different league.”
“The vehicle performs well at low speeds and relatively well at medium speeds, but at high speeds, we are far behind,” he expressed his frustration.
“The other drivers, it felt like I was in a different league when navigating the high-speed sections alongside them. So, it’s certainly frustrating to be in the same position for three consecutive years, or it’s certainly challenging.
“But we will remain focused and continue to work diligently, knowing that everyone at the factory is giving their utmost effort.
“However, we will definitely make significant adjustments. Perhaps, we haven’t made substantial enough changes.
“If you observe the three teams ahead of us, they still have different approaches in certain areas. So, we certainly need to improve our performance.”
Hamilton utilized Mercedes’ advantage in straight-line speed over McLaren and strategic positioning at Turn 1 to prevent Oscar Piastri from overtaking him.
While he maintains that his passion for racing hasn’t diminished, the seven-time champion admits that competing for lower points positions is not exciting.
“I wouldn’t say I’m having a great time,” he remarked. “I’m racing for ninth place, and I can’t say that finishing ninth is enjoyable.
“I do find pleasure in the actual racing aspect, and I was relentlessly pursuing and pushing to my limits.
“I was maximizing every ounce of performance from the car, pushing it to the edge, but unfortunately, we were severely lacking in high-speed performance, where our competitors had the upper hand.”
Nevertheless, Hamilton, who will leave Mercedes to join Ferrari in 2025, remains hopeful that the team can fight for higher positions on the grid by improving the W15.
“But there are positives. The car performs well at low speeds, and there are areas where we need to generate more downforce at high speeds,” he reiterated.
“I believe that if we can achieve that, it will put us in the battle.”