Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has shed light on the root cause of Lewis Hamilton’s struggles during the 2024 Formula 1 season, following Hamilton’s candid assessment that he was “just slow” in certain races.
While Hamilton remains a top-tier driver, Mercedes has faced challenges with the performance of their W15 car, leaving the seven-time world champion battling to extract its full potential.
### **Wolff’s Analysis**
Wolff identified car setup issues and the inherent limitations of the W15 as the primary factors behind Hamilton’s uneven performances this season. Speaking to the media, Wolff explained:
> “We’ve identified that the car’s aerodynamics and balance aren’t suited to Lewis’s driving style in certain conditions. It’s not about him being ‘slow’—it’s about giving him a car that he can trust and push to the limit.”
### **Specific Struggles**
1. **Aerodynamic Instability**:
This has disrupted his ability to attack corners aggressively.
2. **Tire Management**:
Mercedes has struggled with tire degradation on specific circuits, a problem that has sometimes left Hamilton unable to sustain competitive lap times over long stints.
3. **Adaptation Challenges**:
While Hamilton’s teammate George Russell has occasionally adapted better to the W15’s quirks, Wolff emphasized that the car does not align with Hamilton’s preferences for a more stable and responsive rear end.
### **Hamilton’s Perspective**
Hamilton, known for his honesty, admitted that adapting to the W15 has been challenging but remains optimistic about the team’s efforts.
> “We’ve had some tough weekends, no doubt. But I trust the team, and we’re working hard to figure things out. This isn’t the first time we’ve faced adversity, and we’ll come through stronger.”
> “The W16 will address the issues we’ve faced this year.
### **Conclusion**
While Hamilton’s struggles have been a combination of car-related issues and setup mismatches, Mercedes is actively working to resolve these problems.
