Lewis Hamilton’s challenging 2024 season: Frustration, speculation and a new chapter
Lewis Hamilton’s final season with Mercedes has been hugely turbulent, marked by on-track struggles, heated fan speculation, and a looming transition to Ferrari.
The seven-time world champion, known for his resilience and determination, has faced mounting challenges during his 2024 campaign, which has been widely regarded as one of the toughest of his illustrious career.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Noah Ngcobo takes a look at how the season has unfolded.
A tough Qatar Grand Prix
The Qatar Grand Prix served as a microcosm of Hamilton’s season. Starting from sixth on the grid, he endured a series of misfortunes, including a poor start that dropped him to ninth, a five-second penalty for jumping the start lights, and a puncture caused by debris on the track.
The penalties continued to stack up, with a drive-through penalty for speeding in the pit lane compounding his woes.
At one point during the race, Hamilton expressed his frustration over the team radio, urging his engineer, Peter Bonnington, to retire the car.
Despite his pleas, Bonnington insisted that he continue, warning of further penalties if he failed to finish.
It was a rare public display of Hamilton’s frustration, revealing the weight of a season where success has often seemed elusive.
A brutal self-assessment
Earlier in the weekend, Hamilton delivered a harsh evaluation of his own performance after being out-qualified by team-mate George Russell for both the main race and the sprint.
"I’m not fast anymore," Hamilton remarked candidly, acknowledging his struggles to match Russell’s pace.
In the sprint, Hamilton managed only a seventh-place start and later lost a hard-fought battle for fifth to future Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc.
Reflecting on his season, Hamilton admitted that his focus had shifted toward the upcoming winter break.
“At this point, I really don’t care. I just want to get through these next couple of races,” he told Sky Sports.
Despite his challenges, Hamilton expressed gratitude for his career, emphasising that even difficult days are part of the journey.
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Fan speculation and Mercedes' response
Hamilton’s struggles have fueled wild conspiracy theories among some of his fanbase, accusing Mercedes of sabotaging the champion as retaliation for his decision to join Ferrari in 2025.
These claims were emphatically dismissed by Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who labelled such allegations as “crazy, made-up conspiracies” perpetuated by “idiots” on social media.
Wolff did not mince his words, calling out the toxic environment of online commentary and reaffirming that Hamilton had received the same equipment as his team-mate.
Former world champion Jenson Button echoed these sentiments, stating that no team would intentionally slow down one of its drivers.
Wolff further clarified that Hamilton’s struggles were partly due to the W15 car’s inability to accommodate his aggressive driving style, particularly his late-braking technique.
“That car can’t take it,” Wolff explained, noting that the car’s lack of grip and instability has exacerbated Hamilton’s challenges.
Looking ahead to Ferrari
As Hamilton prepares for his final race with Mercedes at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, he is set to embark on a new chapter with Ferrari.
While the 2024 season has been far from ideal, Hamilton’s move to the iconic Italian team offers fresh opportunities to reignite his career and challenge the dominance of Red Bull.
Despite the challenges, Hamilton remains a formidable competitor, and his journey with Ferrari will undoubtedly be one of the most closely watched narratives in Formula 1.
Whether he can reclaim his throne atop the sport remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Lewis Hamilton’s story is far from over.
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