Get a close-up of Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes W15.
Lewis Hamilton has joked about being in constant conflict with his Mercedes W15, a third of the way into a season in which the Briton has yet to feature on a Grand Prix podium.
Mercedes aimed to bounce back from a winless 2023 season by introducing a significantly modified car on the track this year. During pre-season testing, all the feedback from the team was positive and complimentary.
Lewis Hamilton: At the moment, it’s every second
Calling the W15 a “real race car”, Lewis Hamilton believed Mercedes had “clearly” improved and that this is a “package that we can potentially fight with is really pleasing”.
Despite facing correlation issues, the season has gotten off to a challenging start for both Hamilton and George Russell, as they have yet to secure a place on a Grand Prix podium. It is worth noting, however, that Hamilton managed to clinch the P2 spot at the Sprint race in China.
With two sixth-placed finishes on Sundays, the 39-year-old has secured his best result so far in the Drivers’ Championship, currently ranking in eighth place.
Asked by the ‘Hot Ones’ host Sean Evans when he is “most in conflict” with his car, Hamilton replied: “Right now!” before laughing.
He further stated, “Currently, it occurs every second.”
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Putting jokes aside, the seven-time World Champion proceeded to clarify that the intensity of the conflict arises primarily at the beginning of a race. In this crucial stage, he must strike a balance between conserving his tires and ensuring there is an adequate amount of tire life remaining towards the end of a stint.
“He further explained that it is likely during the initial phase of the race when you have a full fuel load that you are unable to give your maximum effort. It is not possible to maintain qualifying pace throughout every lap.”
“In order to achieve more distance, it is necessary to ease up and aim for the corners with a slightly slower approach.”
Additionally, it involves understanding when to moderate your efforts. There are instances when you may restrain yourself excessively, resulting in prematurely concluding your task. Even during your pit stop, you may find that you have unused tires. It is at this moment when you come to the realization that you did not fully utilize them.
Hamilton has made a firm commitment to assist Mercedes in reclaiming their prominent position on the grid. He has promised to dedicate himself entirely to Mercedes, the team with whom he achieved six out of his seven World titles.
“In the end, my main focus is to consistently give my best effort every weekend, pushing myself and dedicating everything I have for the sake of this team,” he expressed to the media, including PlanetF1.com, during the Monaco event.
“I’m incredibly thrilled to witness the team’s continuous efforts in introducing upgrades. We have been fortunate to have seen upgrades in the past three races, and George’s recent upgrade also had a positive impact. I am eagerly looking forward to acquiring that upgrade for the upcoming race in Canada.”
“And with optimism, in the upcoming races, we anticipate obtaining additional opportunities to persistently strive and narrow that distance.”
Hamilton currently sits eighth in the Drivers’ Championship, trailing Russell, and is a massive 127 points down on Max Verstappen.
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