Hamilton has faced difficulties in qualifying during the 2024 season of Formula 1. Despite this, he denies that it has been a complete disaster and has made efforts to adapt his driving style. Hamilton holds the record for the most pole positions in F1 history, with an impressive 104 to his name. However, this season he has struggled to live up to his reputation as a strong qualifier.
Although he has shown promising pace in practice sessions, Hamilton has often failed to perform when it matters most. This has led him to predict that he will be behind his teammate George Russell in the remaining races, as Russell currently leads their head-to-head battle 10-4.
Mercedes attributes Hamilton’s issues to his aggressive driving style, which is not well-suited to the current ground effect cars and the characteristics of the Pirelli tires. Hamilton agrees with this assessment and has attempted to change his approach in order to overcome his setbacks. However, he has been careful not to go to extremes and risk compromising his natural driving strengths.
When asked how he has dealt with the challenges of this season, Hamilton admitted to being stubborn and continuing to drive in his preferred manner. However, he has also recognized the need for adaptation and the importance of acknowledging that his approach may not always be perfect. He is determined to find a balance between maintaining his strengths and making necessary adjustments.
Hamilton emphasized that as drivers, they cannot control everything and there are situations where some drivers excel while others struggle. Adaptation can come quickly for some and take longer for others, but he does not view his situation as disastrous.
Despite his qualifying troubles, Hamilton has still performed well in races and capitalized on Mercedes’ improvements to secure two victories this season. Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur, who will be Hamilton’s boss in 2025, believes that Hamilton’s 34-point lead over Russell is evidence that his problems have been exaggerated. Vasseur sees Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari as a positive, citing his extensive experience in Formula 1.
Photo from Lewis Hamilton Instagram
