Lewis Hamilton Unveils Frustrations with Mercedes at the Onset of the 2023 Season in Bahrain
Disappointing Season for the Silver Arrows: Hamilton Finishes Third, Mercedes Takes Second in Constructors’
The Silver Arrows concluded another underwhelming season, narrowly securing second place in the constructors’ championship ahead of Ferrari. Lewis Hamilton, finishing third in the drivers’ standings, amassed 234 points, a considerable 341 points behind Max Verstappen’s total.
Verstappen’s dominance was evident as Red Bull outpaced all competitors, securing the constructors’ title almost single-handedly. Mercedes trailed with 409 points fewer, while Ferrari lagged by 406 points.
Hamilton, experiencing his second winless season in 17 years, faced stiff competition. Carlos Sainz of Ferrari broke the Red Bull streak with a remarkable performance in the Singapore Grand Prix, marking the first win for a non-Red Bull driver in 2023. This season marked Hamilton’s second consecutive winless year, following his first losing season in 17 years.
Hamilton’s Lowest Podium Tally Since 2013 with McLaren
In the current season, Lewis Hamilton experienced his lowest number of podium finishes since his final year with McLaren in 2013. Across 22 races, the 38-year-old secured a podium spot only six times, with half of those being second-place finishes in Mexico City, Australia, and Spain.
Mercedes actively contested Red Bull and Verstappen for victory at the United States Grand Prix. Unfortunately, due to a flawed strategy, Hamilton couldn’t catch up to the 2023 champion in time. Subsequently, stewards disqualified the Briton from the race, citing excessive wear on his floor.
Mercedes ignored his requests after major urgent worries.
Hamilton Predicted Challenges for Mercedes in 2023 from Bahrain Onward
Since the Bahrain Grand Prix in March, Lewis Hamilton foresaw a challenging season for Mercedes. Expressing concern, he noted that the Silver Arrows were ‘on the wrong track’ after FP1 showed them trailing six-tenths of a second behind the leaders. The warning signs were evident even during testing.
Hamilton has now disclosed that he engaged in ‘huge, enormous meetings’ with Mercedes regarding the team’s vehicle philosophy. He asserts that despite his efforts, ‘no one’ within the squad comprehended how to address their issues, and his requests were allegedly disregarded by the Silver Arrows.
“I’m sure there were frustrations because I had asked for certain changes, and they weren’t done,” Hamilton told BBC Sport. The Briton added: “No one knew exactly what the problem was. No one knew how to fix it.
“Having the experience of the previous year, I just applied myself, in terms of digging down, sitting with the guys. We were having much better meetings. I was able to stay a lot more positive [things] during the year and be like: ‘It’s going to be a long season but let’s not give up. Let’s keep pushing towards getting the maximum out of the car, whatever that may be.’
“I think for this year they thought: ‘The fundamentals are good and we just have to go here.’ And it was not the case. That’s why I was frustrated in February because they hadn’t made the changes I’d asked for.”
Going for such long stretches without feeling that specific balance between driver and vehicle may cause psychological turmoil, and Hamilton is no exception.
“There are always going to be moments when you’re like, ‘Is it me or is it the car?’.
“Do you still have it? Has it gone? Because you’re missing that… when the magic happens, when everything comes together, the car and you and you get that spark, it’s extraordinary, and that’s what you’re in the search for.
“Of course [I had these moments of doubt]; I’m only human. If anyone in the world tells you they don’t have those things they’re in denial. We’re all human beings.”
