Lewis Hamilton ‘not accepting reality’ as Mercedes warned of W15 set-up experiments

lewis hamilton ‘not accepting reality’ as mercedes warned of w15 set-up experiments

Lewis Hamilton and a Mercedes logo

Lewis Hamilton is not “willing to accept the reality” of Mercedes’ situation in F1 2024, with his setup experiments likely to have “long-term” consequences for the team’s development of the W15 car.

That is the view of former F1 technical director Gary Anderson, who has urged Hamilton to “look and learn” from team-mate George Russell in the seven-time World Champion’s bid to kickstart his season.

Could Lewis Hamilton’s W15 setup tinkering hurt Mercedes long term?

Mercedes entered the F1 2024 campaign aiming to return to regular victory contention, having been restricted to just a single race win since F1’s ground effect rules were introduced in 2022.

However, Hamilton has endured his worst-ever start to a season, scoring just 19 points across the first five rounds and finishing behind Russell in every race the Mercedes pair have finished to date.

Following the trend of the last couple of seasons, Hamilton has sought to unlock more performance from the W15 by trying a range of setups.

PlanetF1.com recommends

Follow PlanetF1.com’s WhatsApp channel for all the F1 breaking news!

Lewis Hamilton now finally has a chance to escape the ghosts of Abu Dhabi 2021

This strategy backfired at the recent Chinese Grand Prix, where just hours after finishing second to Max Verstappen’s Red Bull in the sprint race Hamilton could only manage 18th in qualifying.

Hamilton later admitted that he had made “massive changes” to his car between the sessions and could only recover to ninth place the following day.

Anderson, the former Jordan technical boss who has been a vociferous critic of Mercedes over recent years, has accused Hamilton of being unwilling “to accept the reality” of the team’s situation.

And he has warned that the seven-time World Champion’s tinkering could have long-term consequences for the team’s development, limiting Mercedes’ understanding of the W15.

Writing in his column for the Telegraph, he said: “There might be something in Hamilton chasing the few times that Mercedes have found their sweet spot in the last few years.

“It has been there on occasion – two poles and one win since the end of 2021 – but has been fleeting.

“The Mercedes is generally inconsistent. This is all likely leading him astray and Hamilton does not seem willing to accept the reality.

“There is a knock-on effect that hampers the car’s development long-term, too. If you make odd choices on set-up then a team fails to find a baseline for performance and setup.

“It limits learning about the car. If that is absent then the development path, knowing what to work on in the wind tunnel and improving aerodynamic performance, will be confused too.

“It leaves a team with no positive direction.

“This continues to be a recurring headache for Hamilton but he has at least an end date as he departs for Ferrari.

“In the meantime if he does not want to end the year as the second-best Mercedes driver he should look and learn from Russell and simply take the best out of what he has to work with.”

Anderson’s latest comments come after he warned Hamilton that “the excuses must stop at some point”, claiming his setup experiments are unlikely to be as dramatic as he says.

He said: “Hamilton still seems to be searching for that magic bullet that will suddenly see him leap to the front. Well, in all my years in motorsport I have never seen that happen.

“Mercedes have had a fundamental problem with their car since the start of 2022 and no amount of setup changes will fix it. It should always be about optimising what you have at your disposal, if you can do this it gives you a baseline to work from.

“The excuses must stop at some point. The decision-making process on Hamilton’s side of the garage has to be questioned.

“When Hamilton talks of these out-there setups, they are probably not as wild as he would have us believe.”

OTHER NEWS

20 minutes ago

Peter Dutton reveals intent to cut migration and support first-home buyers

20 minutes ago

How relevance deprivation syndrome has liberated me in my retirement

20 minutes ago

'Let Them Be Kids': New youth campaign tackles dangers of social media

20 minutes ago

Video: Candid Aussie reveals surprise job that pays $50 an hour - and only requires one week of training and no degree

22 minutes ago

Boxing-Usyk beats Fury to become undisputed heavyweight champ

22 minutes ago

Simbine registers fastest 100m of season, Lyles superb in 150m

22 minutes ago

Irish business tycoon and rugby record breaker Tony O'Reilly dies at 88

25 minutes ago

Golden girl! Cate Blanchett stuns in a puffy metallic gown as she attends Cannes Film Festival - before getting a four-minute standing ovation for new film Rumours

25 minutes ago

Sam Kerr wins fifth straight WSL title with Chelsea - as Mary Fowler endures public heartbreak

25 minutes ago

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott pledges to keep bussing migrants to NYC: ‘Mayor Adams needs something to do’

26 minutes ago

Actress Lucy Punch will reunite with Dame Joanna Lumley for Motherland spin-off

26 minutes ago

Shane Lowry ties major-championship scoring record with 62 and makes biggest move on Moving Day at 2024 PGA Championship

26 minutes ago

‘Emilia Pérez' Review: Leading Lady Karla Sofía Gascón Electrifies in Jacques Audiard's Mexican Redemption Musical

26 minutes ago

Six of the best: Manchester City’s mainstays who have gone distance

26 minutes ago

Dublin’s hopes broken by Eoin Cody’s saving grace as Kilkenny get back on track

27 minutes ago

Streep, Gerwig shine on Cannes red carpet

28 minutes ago

Tyson Fury accuses judges of helping Oleksandr Usyk win because Ukraine is ‘at war’

29 minutes ago

Police arrest suspect in 1989 cold case killing of 78-year-old Pennsylvania woman

30 minutes ago

Revered Chicago candy shop makes People magazine's summer travel bucket list

32 minutes ago

Video: Inside Cristiano Ronaldo's arrival for Oleksandr Usyk's historic victory over Tyson Fury... as the football star is welcomed by Saudi Arabia officials before taking his ringside seat

34 minutes ago

'Whether they're from Donegal or Senegal, it makes no difference': A night at the Lighthouse café

34 minutes ago

RA_17MAY24_FLV_WILLIAMS_IS_CLEAR_FAVOURITE_FOR_GOALKEEPER_OF_THE_SEASON_16-9.mp4

34 minutes ago

Hepatitis A case reported at Beverly Hills Whole Foods

34 minutes ago

Chelsea vs. AFC Bournemouth, Premier League: Preview, team news, how to watch

34 minutes ago

The Look Ahead: May 17, 2024

35 minutes ago

Should Your Engine Be Hot Or Cold When You Check Oil Levels?

35 minutes ago

HISD, Cy Fair ISD and Spring Branch ISD give updates on status of their schools

39 minutes ago

MCoBeauty founder Shelley Sullivan 'abruptly' splits from husband Anthony seven years after lavish wedding

40 minutes ago

Lok Sabha polls: Kharge accuses PM Modi of ‘provoking’ people, calls on ED to take action

40 minutes ago

World-first live remote muster by drone at Beef Australia 2024 a sign of thing to come for cattle industry

40 minutes ago

Depleted Bristol beat Harlequins in thriller as both teams miss semi-finals spots

40 minutes ago

Best beach cover ups: sarongs, kaftans and more

40 minutes ago

Does servicing outside your dealership void your warranty?

40 minutes ago

Rep. Ritchie Torres talks lithium-ion battery safety legislation

40 minutes ago

After five years, three bridges and two floods, a permanent Mersey River crossing is now open

40 minutes ago

Shane Lowry ties major championship record, shoots 9-under 62 at the PGA

40 minutes ago

Donald Trump attends youngest son's graduation

40 minutes ago

Pittsburgh Penguins' Mike Sullivan to coach U.S. Olympic men's hockey team in 2026

43 minutes ago

‘The Balconettes’ Review: A Very Bloody, Somewhat Didactic, Game – Cannes Film Festival

43 minutes ago

Will Quebec’s forest fire season be as bad as it was last year?

Kênh khám phá trải nghiệm của giới trẻ, thế giới du lịch