Lewis Hamilton, who has registered almost every record in F1 history, has one of his career’s worst seasons in 2024. The continuous struggle was transitioning to his dull appearance after every weekend. However, a glimmer of hope appeared after he finished fourth in Canada. The Briton improved further and delivered his best performance of 2024. As a result, he could finish on the podium ahead of his teammate George Russell.
The 39-year-old driver is about to leave the Silver Arrows after signing a shocking deal with Ferrari. However, he has been adamant about finishing the last season with Mercedes on a high note. Until now, it was a distant dream. However, the German Marque is turning Hamilton’s dream into reality with technical improvements.
Hamilton Explains Mercedes Strategy That Helped Him Finish On Podium After 13 Races
In the 10th race of the 2024 season, Lewis Hamilton finished on the podium. The P3 in the Spanish GP was his first top spot after thirteen races. Although the Briton had an opportunity to win the race, he failed to tackle Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, who remained ahead until the finish line. Nonetheless, the seven-time world champion was ecstatic with the performance, clinching 15 crucial points for his team. Further, he praised the team’s strategy, ensuring a top-notch result.
The 39-year-old Mercedes driver said it was a solid weekend and thanked his team for the outcome. Further, he remarked these results as a ‘big boost.’ Moreover, he stated it had been a ‘minute’ since he had been up there at the end of a race. Despite the technical team’s early season struggle, Hamilton lauded everyone’s efforts at the Brackley factory. The team’s pit stop strategy helped Hamilton to save time. As a result, he was able to finish ahead of his teammate Russell and Ferrari drivers.
Conjointly, he reflected upon the competition, claiming the team was slowly approaching its rivals. The Briton believes the team has been competitive in the last two races. Although the Mercedes squad has closed the gap, Hamilton feels a couple of tenths difference needs to be covered. The Ferrari-bound driver reflected upon his initial struggle during the Barcelona GP. He got a bad start and lost ground against the rival teams. However, later, he regained his spot by driving cleanly and smoothly. Ultimately, the veteran racer regrets not starting well, as it might have given them an outside chance to win the Grand Prix.
Hamilton Eager To Finish His Farewell Season With Mercedes With A Win
In a post-race interview following the Barcelona Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton addressed questions about his prospects of securing a victory. Also, he discussed the significance of finishing his Mercedes career with a win. Thus, Hamilton reflected on the team’s journey and emphasized the importance of consistency over outright victories. He expressed satisfaction with the team’s progress and aimed to score points and improve their standing consistently.
Hamilton highlighted the team’s current potential to compete for wins, acknowledging that consistency in their performances could lead to opportunities for victory. Moreover, he cited the Montreal Grand Prix as an example, noting that his teammate George Russell had a strong chance of winning and that if Hamilton had qualified better, he might have also been in contention if Hamilton had qualified better.
Furthermore, Hamilton expressed optimism about the team’s ability to close the gap between them and their competitors. Therefore, he hopes Mercedes will continue progressing in the upcoming races and pose a greater challenge to the frontrunners. Hamilton’s focus remains on steady improvement and making the most of the team’s potential to achieve better results.