Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time world champion in the sport of Formula One, arguably is the face of the sport. He equaled the world record of winning the most driver’s championship in 2020. However, a few controversial calls during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2021 denied the Briton his eighth title. Despite the setbacks, the Mercedes ace has resumed his fight on the tracks of F1 to inspire generations to come.
After 2021, everything fell apart for the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team. The team, who once dominated the tracks of F1 for nearly a decade, suddenly got pushed back to the middle of the gird owing to a wrecked car that generated no significant pace whatsoever. Further, the Silver Arrows made a bold decision to keep the W13 design intact for the 2023 season and designed the new W14 accordingly. However, the move backfired as the new machinery is dealing with the same issues. As a result, Lewis Hamilton, the team’s face, is facing the heat.
F1 Pundit Asks Fans To Be Patient With Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton, the Mercedes star, has won six championship titles with the team until 2020. However, things drastically changed in the next season. This year, the Briton is struggling with the W14 as it does not have the desired pace. The veteran is trying his best to generate the most out of the machinery, but it’s not enough to contest the flying Red Bulls. While the Briton secured a podium finish in Australia, his teammate, George Russell, has constantly outperformed him. Russell is one-tenth of a second ahead of Hamilton, which has led to fans questioning Hamilton’s competency as a driver.
Meanwhile, F1 pundit Peter Windsor has come out in support of the Mercedes ace. On his Youtube channel, Windsor said people must cut Lewis Hamilton some slack. After all, he is a seven-time world champion. It takes a lot of resilience and hard work from a driver to achieve that kind of milestone. Peter added Hamilton has been in this business since 2007 and knows how to race. While it may look like he is behind Russell on pace, overall, he is in the mix, fighting. The Briton is controlling other aspects of racing better than anyone on the grid. The pundit feels to drive Mercedes’ W14 is a task in itself, and Hamilton is trying his best to generate the best pace out of it while avoiding any huge damage.
Hamilton’s Former Teammate Believes Russell’s Form Isn’t Affecting Him
Former F1 champion and ex-teammate of Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button, has rallied his support for the Briton. He feels that being outperformed by teammate George Russell is not affecting Hamilton’s mindset at all. The Mercedes star is much more comfortable in his skin. He knows who he is, how good he is, and what he’s capable of. Moreover, Button reckoned that if provided with the right car, Lewis still has what it takes to contest for the ultimate championship.
This season, it’s unlikely that Lewis Hamilton will attain his eighth title. The Red Bulls are 30-odd seconds quicker, and Mercedes is just falling behind with each passing race. However, the team principal, Toto Wolff, has promised a major update package for the upcoming Imola Grand Prix. While the update would not be enough to contest the Red Bull, it would reduce the 30 seconds gap significantly.
