Mercedes thinks a double whammy of sensitivity to brake locking and snaps of oversteer throughout qualifying runs have been the set off for the difficulties Lewis Hamilton had in 2024.
Hamilton endured a difficult season with the W15 as he particularly discovered himself unable to get as a lot out of his automobile in qualifying as team-mate George Russell.
Over the 24-race season, which included six dash occasions, Russell outqualified him 24-6, with the tally 19-5 when you exclude the sprints.
That deficit to Russell was solely a few tenths at occasions however, with the F1 grid being so aggressive final season, that was sufficient to drop Hamilton a number of locations down the grid – which made his recoveries on Sundays more durable.
Mercedes head of trackside engineering Andrew Shovlin mentioned that Hamilton was finally hampered battling a automobile that wasn’t quick sufficient and had a slim set-up window.
However there have been some specifics to the seven-time world champion’s driving that meant he was not as snug extracting every little thing that was attainable on new tyres.
“The automobile hasn’t been fast sufficient, and that is been the factor that we have been attempting to resolve,” mentioned Shovlin, reflecting on what the problems at play for Hamilton have been.
“The automobile hasn’t been straightforward to get into a pleasant steadiness window, and significantly when you get there, maintaining it there was a problem.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15
Picture by: Lubomir Asenov / Motorsport Pictures
“Past all of that, I believe you realize Lewis has struggled on a single lap. His race tempo has been there all through the weekend. Nevertheless it’s simply with a detailed grid, you usually begin a couple of locations behind your team-mate, and you then’re held up and you may’t present what you are able to do.
“However the learn on Lewis’s race tempo has been superb. He confirmed in Las Vegas that if he has a automobile that works the way in which he desires, he can battle proper again to the entrance. And we very a lot noticed the previous Lewis.”
Shovlin detailed that there have been some specifics on these qualifying runs that Hamilton was not particularly snug with.
“The problem actually for him has simply been if you end up attempting to extract that final tenth or two,” he mentioned.
“It has been tough when it comes to attempting to keep away from brake locking, attempting to keep away from snaps on exit. It is simply these points.
“However the way in which the crew seems to be at that’s that we wanted to present Lewis a automobile extra just like the one we had in Vegas, the place it does swimsuit his model, and he can do his finest work with it.”
Whereas there appears to be a development of drivers who’re good on brakes – like Hamilton, Daniel Ricciardo and Kevin Magnussen – all having confronted challenges with this era of ground-effect automobile, Shovlin is just not satisfied that’s the fundamental issue.
He thinks that maybe extra essential has been the problem of rotating automobiles on the throttle, however with out overheating the rears.
“I believe lately, a variety of it’s maintaining warmth out of the rear tyres,” he mentioned. “For those who strategy a nook in a method that that signifies that they’re sizzling, or when you’re having to show the automobile on the throttle, then you’ll battle with that.
“[Braking style] could also be a think about amongst all of it, however I do not actually know sufficient about Magnussen and Ricciardo to know whether or not that was their challenge.
“However definitely maintaining the warmth out of the rear tyres on a single lap is an important factor at about half to 2 thirds of the circuits.”
That Russell was capable of constantly get extra out of the W15 prompt that there may very well be one thing to do with differing kinds between him and Hamilton.
However Shovlin didn’t assume that there was an apparent rationalization as to why Russell acquired on prime of the qualifying points higher.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15
Picture by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Pictures
Requested if there was an evidence that may very well be noticed on the information, Shovlin mentioned: “I imply, not likely within the model or strategy, as a result of Lewis is smart sufficient to know that if one thing is working for George, he can adapt his driving to go in that course.
“There are issues which you could see that finally, after they actually begin pushing, then that is if you begin to get the snaps of oversteer on exit.
“And that, occasionally, is an space that Lewis would possibly endure extra from than George. However, as I mentioned, the main target for our 12 months has been, how will we get the automobile in a method that Lewis wants to permit him to drive it on the restrict and never endure these issues.”
On this article
Jonathan Noble
System 1
Lewis Hamilton
Mercedes
Be the primary to know and subscribe for real-time information e mail updates on these subjects
Subscribe to news alerts