The season began with Red Bull in control, storming to yet another easy victory. However, the breaks were pushed, and the developing powers overturned the RBR’s dominance. Formula One is now a four-way struggle, with all leading teams vying for the Constructors’ Cup.
Although Red Bull remains in first place, McLaren is on the verge of taking the lead, with its drivers in excellent form. Furthermore, Mercedes is back in the chase with some aggressive improvements, and Ferrari is not far behind. Therefore, Mercedes legend Lewis Hamilton is anticipating a high-voltage competition in the second half of this season.
“One Hell Of A Second Half,” Mercedes Giant Excited For A Fiery Competition In The Remainder Of 2024 Season
Reflecting on the current season, Lewis Hamilton drew parallels to the 2012 Formula 1 season, where the first seven races saw seven different winners, including himself. Hamilton expressed that such competitive unpredictability is beneficial for the sport, noting how close the teams and drivers have become this year. He praised the elite caliber of the drivers at the top of the standings. Further, the Briton admitted that neither he nor his team expected to be competing with powerhouses like McLaren and Red Bull at this stage, given their challenging start to the season. However, their recent progress has set the stage for what promises to be an exciting second half of the season.
When asked whether this resurgence could lead to an unexpected title challenge in 2024, especially before his move to Ferrari, Hamilton downplayed the idea, calling it “high hopes.” He acknowledged the solid recent performances but emphasized the need to improve their weekend starts to maintain this momentum. Hamilton also recognized the strength of the McLaren in Belgium, noting that his team was just slightly ahead early in the race. He stressed the importance of continuing to push hard as the season progresses.
On the other hand, George Russell echoed this sentiment. Despite his disappointment at losing a victory in Spa-Francorchamps due to his underweight car, Russell remained optimistic about the tight competition at the front. He suggested these battles could set the stage for a multi-team title fight in 2025. Russell highlighted the progress in getting the car into a position where it can consistently fight for victories and expressed his excitement for the second half of the season. He noted that the championship standings would look very different if the season had started at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal. Russell also pointed out the strong motivation among all the top teams, including McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes, to return to the front of the grid, predicting intense competition in the races to come and into next year.
Former F1 Champion Urges Toto Wolff To Exclude Lewis Hamilton From Team Meetings
Former F1 driver and world champion Damon Hill has advised Mercedes’ leadership to make a difficult decision as Lewis Hamilton’s departure looms. Although Mercedes is currently experiencing a strong resurgence, Hill emphasized on the F1 Nation Podcast that team principal Toto Wolff should exclude Hamilton from discussing future plans.
With the Brackley-based team already set to lose a champion driver to Ferrari, the last thing they want is to inadvertently provide the rival team with valuable strategic insights. Nonetheless, Hill acknowledged that the knowledge Hamilton takes with him to Ferrari might not significantly benefit the Maranello squad.