Lewis Hamilton faces a setback as he updates his win timeline after Max Verstappen’s impressive performance in Austria.
- The Mercedes W15 shows significant improvement but remains behind Red Bull’s scorching pace, evidenced by Hamilton’s recent qualifiers.
- Despite a promising start, Hamilton and teammate George Russell find themselves grappling with downforce issues.
- The high-speed corners reveal Verstappen’s advantage over Mercedes, highlighting areas for improvement.
- Hamilton admits the path to a race victory for Mercedes seems longer due to the current pace gap.
Lewis Hamilton has found himself reassessing his chances of a 2024 victory after Max Verstappen’s remarkable pace during the Austrian Grand Prix qualifiers. Although Mercedes has shown marked improvement, Verstappen’s speed poses a fresh challenge. Hamilton, who has not won since 2021, acknowledges that their journey to the top step of the podium is fraught with obstacles, likening the timeline for potential wins as further away than originally thought.
Recently, Mercedes has made strides, with both Hamilton and George Russell securing podium finishes in Spain and Canada. However, the qualifying session in Austria brought Mercedes’ limitations into stark relief. Hamilton secured the fifth spot, trailing Verstappen by 0.598 seconds. Meanwhile, Russell managed to edge into third place, raising hopes but underscoring the work that remains for Mercedes.
Hamilton candidly explained the struggles Mercedes is facing, primarily attributing them to a lack of downforce. He noted, “We just don’t have enough downforce. That’s all we got.” High-speed corners have become a pain point, where Mercedes lags significantly behind Red Bull. Verstappen’s car is a staggering 12 to 13 kilometers per hour faster in these sections, a gap Hamilton described as “insane.”
The internal team dynamics add another layer to Hamilton’s complex season. George Russell has outqualified him in 9 out of 11 races this year, accentuating internal competition within Mercedes. Despite these challenges, Hamilton remains committed to pushing for improvements. He commented on the need to continually enhance performance, even as winning seems a more distant prospect.
Hamilton’s current season with Mercedes, which will conclude as he moves to Ferrari in 2025, leaves a bittersweet taste. He’s urgently seeking victories to cap off his tenure with Mercedes on a high note. Nevertheless, with Red Bull’s current form, particularly Verstappen’s, the journey to the top has become increasingly daunting.
The road to victory for Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes demands more perseverance as Red Bull’s pace continues to set the bar.
