Formula 1 News: Lewis Hamilton Reveals Mercedes’ 2024 Car Limitations
Mercedes’ seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has admitted that the team’s 2024 Formula 1 car is currently running at its maximum performance level without further upgrades, and surprisingly, it only responds to one specific set-up.
Hamilton’s third-place finish at the 2024 Spanish Grand Prix, 17.8 seconds behind winner Max Verstappen’s Red Bull, constitutes his best result of the season so far. The podium appearance marks his first since the 2023 Mexican GP, which he described as a “big boost to finally get a good result”.
In the post-race press conference, Hamilton acknowledged that Mercedes is slowly closing the gap to the front-runners, but still needs to find an extra couple of tenths to be truly competitive. He emphasized the importance of collective effort, stating, “We just have to have all hands on deck and keep pushing.”
“We just have to have all hands on deck and keep pushing.”
When questioned about the ongoing development of the W15 package, which features a new front wing concept and lighter floor, Hamilton indicated that the car is already operating at its maximum potential. However, he added that the team continues to fine-tune the package with subtle changes throughout the year.
The seven-time world champion highlighted the need for additional upgrades to bridge the gap with Red Bull and McLaren, saying, “But we need to bolt some stuff on, some extra bits to be able to compete with these guys.”
Hamilton’s ability to secure a podium finish in Spain was partly due to his best qualifying result of the year, starting third behind Lando Norris and Verstappen. Despite this, he acknowledged that the Mercedes-AMG F1 Team’s car is “quite peaky” and often out of balance, making it challenging to find a harmonious set-up.
The Formula 1 legend revealed that, despite extensive experimentation, the car only responds to a single set-up, which he believes is a major limitation. Furthermore, he identified tyre preparation as a weakness that needs to be addressed, stating, “Tyres have been a huge issue for me. So, I think we got it half-decent this weekend. If I can make some improvements over the course of the next races, I think there’s more performance there.”
With the 2024 Formula 1 season in full swing, Hamilton’s candid assessment of Mercedes’ car performance provides valuable insight into the team’s struggles and opportunities for growth. As the Formula 1 standings take shape, Hamilton’s quest for improvement will be closely watched by fans and rivals alike.
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