Lewis Hamilton is not happy with Mercedes W15
Lewis Hamilton has revealed his constant struggle with the Mercedes W15, a car that has yet to feature on the podium this season despite the team's efforts to rebound from a winless 2023 campaign.
Revamped Mercedes W15
Pre-season testing saw Mercedes introduce a heavily revised W15, aiming to bounce back from their winless 2023 season.
The team's initial comments were optimistic, with Hamilton calling the W15 a "real race car" and believing Mercedes had "clearly" improved with a "package that we can potentially fight with."
Difficult start to the season
However, the team has faced correlation issues, leading to a difficult start to the 2024 campaign.
Neither Hamilton nor teammate George Russell has secured a podium finish, with Hamilton's best result being two sixth-place finishes, leaving him eighth in the Drivers' Championship.
Constant conflict
In a candid interview with 'Hot Ones' host Sean Evans, Hamilton admitted to being in constant conflict with his car.
When asked when he is "most in conflict" with the W15, Hamilton laughingly responded,
"Right now! At the moment, it's every second."
Race start challenges
Hamilton elaborated that the conflict is most intense at the start of a race when he has to balance preserving tire life while maintaining competitive pace.
He explained,
"When you're on heavy fuel, you can't go 100 percent. You can't do qualifying laps every lap. So you have to pull back and try to hit the corners a little bit slower to go longer."
Determined to improve
Despite the challenges, Hamilton remains determined to help Mercedes return to the front of the grid.
He has vowed to give his all for the team with whom he has won six of his seven World Championships.
Hamilton is optimistic about the team's recent upgrades, stating,
"I'm really so happy to see the team's bringing upgrades, the last three races we've had upgrades."
Mercedes' pursuit of podiums
With Hamilton trailing Max Verstappen by a significant 127 points in the Drivers' Championship, Mercedes' pursuit of podiums and race wins remains elusive so far this season.
However, the team's continued development efforts and Hamilton's unwavering determination suggest they are far from giving up on their quest to regain their competitive edge.
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