Lewis Hamilton is facing once again an F1 season far removed from his usual brilliance, with a disastrous start that is proving “tough on the spirit” for himself but also for the entire Mercedes team.
Last weekend’s Australian Grand Prix was another brutal wake-up call for the seven-time world champion.
Knocked out of qualifying in Q2 on Saturday at Albert Park, race day offered no respite, with Hamilton sidelined after just 17 laps due to an engine failure.
The retirement wasn't just a personal disappointment; it left Mercedes with zero points after teammate George Russell also crashed out later in the race.
This double DNF was a bitter pill to swallow, especially considering Hamilton's best finish so far this season – a meager P7 in Bahrain.
And yet, Mercedes and Hamilton’s 2024 campaign started with a glimmer of hope after pre-season testing produced a cautiously optimistic outlook.
“I mean this is the worst start to a season I’ve ever had,” he said after last Sunday’s event.
When pressed on whether the current state of affairs exceeded the hardships of the past two years, Hamilton insisted: “Oh yeah, for sure, and it’s worse than 2009 I think!”
Hamilton acknowledged that the reality of not being able to compete for wins is becoming tough to accept.
However, the Briton is finding inspiration in the dedication of his team members who continue to work hard despite the challenges.
©Mercedes
“I think it’s tough on the spirit,” said the 39-year-old. “I think for everyone in the team, when so much work has gone on throughout the winter for everybody and you come in excited, motivated and driven, and then you’re with the mindset that you’re going to be fighting for wins, and then obviously that’s not the case.
“And then you either get maybe second or third, but that’s not the case and it cascades a bit further down and you just go through the motions.
“It’s challenging, but I continue to be inspired by the people I work with. They continue to put in the effort and show up, and that’s the most important thing.”
Despite Mercedes’ ongoing struggles, Hamilton emphasized the importance of keeping things in perspective, knowing that the tide will turn at some point for the former championship winning squad.
©Mercedes
“Surprisingly I feel pretty good,” he said. “[I have been] just trying to keep things in perspective. It could be so much worse.
“I’m really grateful to be here, I’ve really enjoyed my time here in Australia. I’m still enjoying working with the team.
“Of course, I’d love to be fighting for wins and actually finishing races. It’s never a great feeling when you’ve come all this way and you don’t see even half of the race, but what I know is that we will bounce back.
“We will eventually get there, we just have to continue to chip away at it.”
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