Amid turbulent seasons, Lewis Hamilton faces potential struggles at the Miami Grand Prix, eyeing further challenges on the horizon.
- In Saudi Arabia, Hamilton trailed 30 seconds behind Charles Leclerc, signaling ongoing performance issues.
- The upcoming Miami GP seems likely to mirror previous difficulties, with Hamilton concerned about his car’s pace.
- Hamilton admitted to lacking confidence in high-speed corners, impacting his recent form.
- Despite support from Ferrari, Hamilton’s quest for better performance continues, with no immediate fixes in sight.
As Lewis Hamilton gears up for the Miami Grand Prix, fans are on edge as he anticipates another challenging weekend. Following a 30-second lag behind Charles Leclerc in Saudi Arabia, Hamilton expressed concerns about similar headwinds in Miami. His confidence and pace, which have been shaky since joining Ferrari, seem to be factors in his struggles. He bluntly remarked, “I think I’ll struggle also in Miami. I don’t know how much longer I’ll struggle for, but it’s definitely painful.”
Hamilton’s recent races have been peppered with disappointments, notably finishing seventh at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit behind his teammate. The glaring gap in performance has left the seven-time F1 World Champion puzzled and seeking answers on team radio about his competitors’ enhanced speed. Hamilton admitted that the lingering issues from his Mercedes days persist, dampening his spirits as he faces the Miami track this weekend.
The crux of Hamilton’s challenge lies in his discomfort with medium to high-speed corners, a weakness clearly highlighted at the high-speed Jeddah track. The disparity in cornering speed between him and Leclerc, who has a more intimate understanding of the car’s dynamics, is apparent in the data. “He’s been driving this car for a long time, so he definitely knows it really well,” Hamilton explained. “In the data, for sure… Just… I go slower through the corners.” This observation reflects Hamilton’s struggle to adapt to the car’s demands.
Hamilton’s despondency was palpable as he described his Saudi Arabia experience, where he was simply “sliding around.” He described his race as devoid of positives, characterized by massive understeer and subpar pace despite varied efforts. His performance left him feeling detached from the car, as there was no clear indication of a specific issue to address. “In qualifying, it’s me extracting performance. In the race, I tried everything, and the car just didn’t want to go quicker,” he lamented.
With Ferrari executives also expressing dissatisfaction with his performance, Hamilton’s pressure intensifies. Fred Vasseur, the Ferrari boss, urged calmness amid the chaos, underscoring his belief in Hamilton’s potential to unlock better performance. “I will be 2,000 percent behind him,” Vasseur assured, indicating a readiness to collaborate with Hamilton to resolve the balance and tire management issues currently plaguing the team. Despite the pressure-cooker environment, Vasseur likened the ups and downs of competition to a continuous journey, requiring incremental improvements and strategic calmness.
The road ahead for Lewis Hamilton remains challenging as he navigates the complexities of his car to regain his former glory.
