The 7x WDC champion Sir Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton has a legacy like no other. He is on a mission to break 7X WDC champion, Ferrari legend, and overall motorsport icon Michael Schumacher’s record for the most WDC titles. However, recent development in the paddock says that it might not be easy to clench the record as Mercedes are underperforming to the fans and their expectations.
Mercedes’ customer team, Aston Martin Cognizant F1 Team has outshined them with their all-new AMR23 and driver lineup. With the presence of 2X WDC Champion Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin now sits in the 2nd position on the Constructors Championship 2023 with 23 points.
Hamilton’s response to the Bahrain GP
The driver hailing from Stevenage, Hertfordshire allegedly put the blame onto the engineering of the car and that he suggested changes, but they were taken with a grain of salt.
He told BBC’s chequered flag podcast “Last year, I told them the issues that are with the car,” and that he knows what an F1 car needs.”
#BahrainGP 🇧🇭: Lewis Hamilton on the W14: “I’ve had many cars like this, particularly back in the McLaren days. I don’t know when or how we’re gonna do it to turn it around but, it’s gonna have to happen.”
— deni (@fiagirly) March 8, 2023
“Yeah, you know what, we didn’t listen to you, it’s not where it needs to be, and we’ve got to work.”, He concluded by saying that the issue is about accountability
Mercedes’ letter to the fans
In the aftermath of the 2023 Bahrain GP at Sakhir, the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team issued an open letter addressing their performance in the race. Lewis Hamilton and George Russell finished 5th and 7th respectively to give Mercedes a total of 16 points. The team still seems to be recovering from the jolt that the previous season’s porpoising issue was.
The letter read “we are working urgently and calmly to build our recovery plan, focusing on what needs to happen short term, medium term, and long term to win.”
“We’re together through thick and thin – from Toto, Lewis, and George to every single woman and man in the factories in Brackley and Brixworth. And we love that challenge.” it continued.
Mercedes: write an open letter to their fans about their lack of performance
— Dan – EngineMode11 (@EngineMode11) March 11, 2023
The Tifosi: “first time?” pic.twitter.com/DE17LFveQK
Mercedes continued by embracing the team spirit and saying that “There are no Silver Bullets in F1”
The German automakers then proceeded to appreciate the support of the fans and explained that the team started working on the W14 as soon as the Bahrain GP ended.
Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari?
Simon Lazenby from Sky Sports stated that “How can you rule out a move to Ferrari if [Mercedes] stay like this?”. Stating the fact that a move to Ferrari could help him reach that 8th WDC once and for all.”
Keeping in mind that the contract with Mercedes is still in talks, it is impossible to rule out a possibility that he kept it hanging to test out the new car. Also, the fact that Ferrari is the closest competitor to Red Bull, the move would make a lot of sense.
“It would be much too easy to lose a driver and then throw in the towel, and we are not doing that,” said Team principal Wolff. “Lewis is an integral part of the team, picking the team up and we are speaking together. I don’t think that is going to change because we had another start that was really bad. We have won eight constructors’ championships and six driver championships with him, that relationship holds.” he added.
🚨| After Lewis Hamilton saying that Mercedes didn’t ‘listen’ to him about the 2023 car, Simon Lazenby (Sky) reckons that Ferrari would be Hamilton’s first choice should he decide to leave.
— Ferrari News 🐎 (@FanaticsFerrari) March 10, 2023
Hamilton is out of contract at the end of 2023.
However, it depends on Toto Wolff and his team to develop the W14 to be able to challenge for wins so that Hamilton can fulfill his dream. To the fans, it seems highly unlikely that Hamilton might leave Mercedes, but one can never tell with the eccentric British driver.
Discussion about this post