At the conclusion of this season, Lewis Hamilton will bring his lengthy and triumphant partnership with Mercedes to a close.
Jenson Button is confident that Mercedes will give Lewis Hamilton “equal treatment” for the duration of the F1 2024 season after George Russell was given the the team’s only new front wing for the Monaco Grand Prix.
Having been a fixture in the top three throughout practice – even topping the opening session on Friday – Hamilton was forced to settle for seventh on the grid, 0.078 seconds adrift of team-mate Russell.
Jenson Button weighs in on Lewis Hamilton’s situation at Mercedes
Additional reporting by Thomas Maher
Russell has outperformed Hamilton on the grid for the seventh time in eight races during the F1 2024 season.
Hamilton revealed unprompted after the session that he was already “automatically” two tenths down heading into qualifying in Monte Carlo, with Russell the only one competing with the team’s upgraded front wing this weekend.
In an interview with Sky F1, he mentioned that they have devoted considerable effort to enhance this car. Right from the beginning, they felt satisfied with its performance and were clearly competitive both yesterday and this morning.
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“We are not implementing any major modifications or anything of that sort.”
The team has put in tremendous effort at the factory to bring an upgrade in the past two races, as well as an update for this weekend. However, we only have one available, and George has it.
I expected it to be challenging to outperform George due to his upgraded component, but it’s truly satisfying to witness our own advancements.
However, when it comes to qualifying, I’m perplexed. I am already aware that I will inevitably lose two tenths during this stage.
“That is undeniably exasperating, and presently, I lack a suitable response for it.”
“I haven’t changed my driving style at all; the laps were truly fantastic. However, I feel like there is something missing.”
Hamilton, who confirmed in February his upcoming move to Ferrari in F1 2025 on a long-term contract, proceeded to state that he does not expect to outperform Russell in qualifying for most of this season.
Speculations have been sparked by the remarks of the seven-time World Champion, implying that Mercedes may prioritize upgrades for Russell as they gear up to separate from Hamilton.
Button, a former McLaren teammate of Hamilton, expressed his belief that Mercedes will maintain fairness towards their drivers until the conclusion of F1 2024 during his appearance as a Sky F1 pundit in Monaco.
Button expressed his surprise at the possibility of Mercedes leaning towards Russell.
I believe that Lewis’ contributions to the team, including the car they provided him to compete for a championship, lead me to disagree with the notion that it won’t happen.
Perhaps they won’t disclose the details of the parts or the extent of their increased speed, but they will ensure equal treatment for all.
Mercedes team boss, Toto Wolff, reassured the media, including PlanetF1.com, that the team would maintain transparency and fairness after Hamilton’s move to Ferrari was officially confirmed during the winter.
However, he acknowledged that both the team and the driver were expected to encounter “novel and demanding circumstances” throughout the F1 2024 season.
He expressed, “My aim as a team principal, along with everyone at Mercedes, has always been to maintain transparency and fairness. Rest assured, this commitment will remain unchanged in 2024.”
“We are committed to upholding our principles and maintaining our racing integrity, and we will ensure that our approach to racing reflects that. Additionally, I will make certain that the drivers honor and uphold these principles.”
Regarding the future development, I believe it is necessary for us to examine this matter.
The regulations remain largely unchanged, and by 2025, we will assess the impact on technical data as the season progresses.
However, I am not concerned about that matter at all. Our company frequently experiences engineers transitioning to different teams, and the notice periods can be as short as six months. Therefore, I have complete confidence in Lewis’s integrity when it comes to sharing information in that regard.
“I want to emphasize the importance of ensuring a successful season for both drivers and Mercedes. It is our collective goal, and we will all strive to give our best in order to achieve it.”
“This is definitely a new situation for Lewis and the team to handle. However, if we concentrate on the immediate short term, which involves the racing team overseeing the product, it won’t significantly affect the ongoing development side.”
“I have a constant enthusiasm for new and challenging situations, as I strive to strike a balance between the interests of Mercedes in 2024 and the interests of drivers in 2025.”
We will initiate an open discussion right from the start, addressing how to effectively handle the situation and ensuring a mutually beneficial resolution.
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