Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton
Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin admitted the team launching their “third bad car in a row” in the W15 had been “difficult” for Lewis Hamilton, given he is “born to win races”.
Hamilton ended a 56-race wait for a victory at Silverstone last time out, after which he admitted to having doubts over whether he would be able to get back on the top step again in an emotional win in front of his home crowd.
Mercedes: Lewis Hamilton self-doubt ‘inevitable’ after run of uncompetitive cars
Mercedes struggled to adapt to the ground effect regulations of 2022, with their win at Interlagos that season through George Russell their only one in Formula 1’s new era until Russell took victory at Austria a fortnight ago, capitalising as Max Verstappen and Lando Norris collided to take an unlikely win.
During the British Grand Prix, Mercedes demonstrated a stronger performance throughout the entire weekend. They managed to secure the front row completely, but unfortunately, Russell was forced to retire due to a suspected problem with the water system.
However, Shovlin described the victory as a true example of Lewis’s style in changing conditions. It was noticeable that this win came after the longest period without a victory in his career. As a result, people questioned whether self-doubt had started to affect the seven-time World Champion during that time.
He clarified that it is only expected for such a situation to occur when the team is unable to consistently compete at the forefront, especially considering the W15’s slower start compared to its competitors this season.
“I mean, it’s inevitable, and I think the whole team has had a period of that,” Shovlin told the F1 Nation podcast when asked if he had seen any self doubt from Hamilton in the period since his last victory.
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As we introduced our third disappointing car consecutively, it left us pondering why we committed such an error and how we managed to repeat it once more.
The lack of a competitive car has undoubtedly raised doubts about one’s actions, especially for Lewis who possesses an innate drive to win races.
He has faced several challenging years, with many tough outcomes. It’s important to note that not all of his races were bad, as he has competed against George, an exceptionally fast and formidable driver. Lewis has even managed to surpass George in some races. However, our inability to secure victories is primarily due to the lack of a winning car.
Shovlin mentioned that Hamilton’s confirmation of joining Ferrari next year has created an atmosphere within Mercedes where they strive to end on a positive note. It would not have been fitting for Hamilton’s time with the Silver Arrows to finish his stint with three consecutive seasons without a victory.
He stated, “Upon hearing Lewis’s decision to join Ferrari, we were all filled with a determination to make this year truly unforgettable and conclude it with a joyful celebration.”
The team had high hopes for this year, aiming to return to winning races and achieve positive results. It would be a disappointment if Lewis’ remarkable chapter at Mercedes were to end with three consecutive seasons without a single victory.
We are pleased for him and the team, but our utmost desire is for that chapter involving Lewis to conclude with a satisfactory outcome.
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