Lewis Hamilton, the celebrated Formula One driver, has found himself at the centre of a debate about team dynamics within Mercedes. As the 2024 season progresses, Hamilton has been urged to acknowledge that Mercedes may be prioritising the happiness of his younger team-mate, George Russell, even at the expense of his own satisfaction.
Near the start of this year, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton announced that he will leave Mercedes at the end of the 2024 season to join Ferrari. The move marks the end of an era for Mercedes and heralds a new chapter for Hamilton at the most storied team in F1 history.
The seeds of Hamilton’s departure were sown against a backdrop of growing internal dynamics at Mercedes. The emergence of George Russell as a formidable team-mate played a significant role. Russell’s impressive performances and growing influence within the team highlighted a shift in Mercedes’ long-term strategy. Hamilton, always a competitor, found himself in a position where his status as undisputed number one was being challenged.
Throughout the 2024 season, Hamilton’s frustration was palpable. Despite his best efforts, he struggled to consistently outqualify and outperform Russell, leading to speculation about his future. In several candid interviews, Hamilton hinted at a desire for new challenges and a fresh environment.
This move has led, obviously, to a change in the internal dynamics of the Mercedes team.
Qualifying problems & strategic decisions
A controversy had been sparked by Hamilton’s recent comments and decisions during the Monaco Grand Prix. Hamilton allowed Russell to use the team’s updated front wing, a move seen by many as a strategic decision aimed at the long-term success of the team.
Despite this, Hamilton’s performance in qualifying has been sub-par, and he has finished behind Russell in seven out of eight attempts this year.
In a candid admission, Hamilton remarked, “I don’t expect to be ahead of George in qualifying, especially this year…”
The statement raised eyebrows and led to speculation about his mindset and the internal dynamics at Mercedes.
Jamie Chadwick’s insight
Jamie Chadwick, the Andretti Indy NXT driver, shared her observations on Channel 4, noting that Hamilton seemed visibly unhappy during the Monaco weekend. She suggested that Hamilton might be “spinning” his story to highlight his lack of access to the upgraded equipment.
“He didn’t look happy,” Chadwick said. “But I think he knows what he’s doing. He’s spinning it to make it look like he didn’t get the upgrades this weekend. I think he should take his hat off to George, who is 7-1 against someone like Lewis.
“Lewis is probably not happy about that to be honest.
“And that’s where that comment came from.”
Focus on the future: George Russell
Chadwick went on to outline the long-term strategy that Mercedes may be pursuing, suggesting that Russell is seen as the future of the team.
“Obviously he’s on his way out. George is staying in that seat for what they hope will be a long time. They need to keep George happy and that might be because Lewis is not happy. He’s doing an incredible job. He’s crushing [Hamilton],” she added.
A Shift in Hamilton’s Demeanour
Diego Mejia, a journalist for Fox Mexico, has noticed a noticeable change in Hamilton’s demeanour this season. Speaking on the F1 Nation podcast, Mejia highlighted that despite Hamilton’s lack of wins, podiums and pole positions, he has maintained a relatively positive outlook but warns that Mercedes ‘keep George Russell happy’.
“It’s been a pleasure to talk to Lewis this year. Even though he’s not getting wins, podiums or pole positions, he’s pretty relaxed. Always looking on the bright side. He was in that mood until the weekend [of the Monaco Grand Prix]. He is a little less Zen,” Mejia observed.
Mejia also speculated on Hamilton’s future, particularly in light of his move to Ferrari.
“Ever since he was announced as a Ferrari driver, we knew that at some point in the year he wouldn’t be in all the meetings with all the information. The normal process that a driver going to a rival team goes through.
“But Lewis’ message is that it is coming earlier. That’s what it looks like from the outside.”
Mercedes’ official stance: Priority is Russell & the Team
In the midst of the speculation, Mercedes’ trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin offered a clear perspective on the team’s decision-making process. Shovlin made it clear that Hamilton’s decision to let Russell use the only upgraded wing in Monaco was a strategic move for the benefit of the team.
Hamilton made the decision to let Russell run their only upgraded wing in Monaco “simply for us” said Shovlin, stressing that the decision was made in the best interests of the team.
He reassured that the team expects to have updated wings for both cars, as well as a spare, by the time of the Canadian Grand Prix.
As the season progresses, the dynamics within Mercedes will undoubtedly be closely scrutinised. Whether Hamilton can regain a position of dominance, or whether Russell will cement his status as the team’s future star, remains to be seen. For now, the priority seems to be to balance immediate performance with long-term strategic goals, even if that means making George Russell happier at the expense of Lewis Hamilton.