Lewis Hamilton’s Disastrous US Grand Prix: A Sign of Strained Ties with Mercedes?
Lewis Hamilton’s recent performance at the United States Grand Prix has raised concerns about his future at Mercedes and his eagerness to move on to Ferrari. The seven-time world champion, known for his dominance at the Circuit of the Americas, faced an unexpected and frustrating end to his race weekend, spinning out at the same corner where his teammate George Russell had an incident during the qualifying session. With five races left in his Mercedes career, many are left wondering if Hamilton is now facing the toughest phase of his racing journey.
The US Grand Prix, a circuit where Hamilton has claimed six wins since its introduction in 2012, has never been a place of struggle for the Briton. However, this year’s event told a different story. Hamilton, starting from P17 after a challenging qualifying session, made significant progress early in the race, climbing up to P12 by the second lap. Yet, a sudden loss of control led to a spin, ending his hopes for a comeback. Following the incident, Hamilton revealed that the car was unstable and unpredictable, a situation he found incredibly frustrating, especially at a track where he had never spun out before.
Hamilton’s remarks about the car’s setup hint at deeper issues within the Mercedes camp. He suggested that the car’s instability was not due to driver error but rather the adjustments made to the car just hours before the qualifying session. He reported problems with the car during practice, specifically noting issues with the suspension, and expressed concern that the last-minute changes worsened his performance. These adjustments, according to Hamilton, seemed to backfire, with the new upgrade package appearing more problematic than beneficial.
Toto Wolff, Mercedes’ team principal, defended Hamilton, attributing the incident to external factors such as wind and dirty air from the car ahead, but acknowledged that there was an underlying issue with the car’s behavior. He confirmed that Hamilton was not at fault, stating, “Lewis was not even pushing at that stage. We definitely have an issue, and I don’t know if the issue was the same yesterday.” Wolff’s comments emphasized that Mercedes is still struggling to bring performance upgrades that work consistently, a problem they had hoped to resolve before the end of the season.
The inconsistency of Mercedes’ performance has been a recurring theme this season. While the team appeared competitive at certain circuits, winning races at Spa and Silverstone, they have failed to maintain that level of performance after the summer break. Hamilton’s highest finish since then was P5 at Monza, a disappointing result for a driver accustomed to fighting at the front. The US Grand Prix further highlighted these struggles, as Russell, starting from the pit lane on the same hard tire as Hamilton, managed to finish P6, showing that there was potential in the car’s pace if not for Hamilton’s unfortunate spin.
Mercedes brought a set of new upgrades to Austin, yet it appears that these changes may have inadvertently disrupted the balance of Hamilton’s car. Russell, who was using an older specification from the Singapore GP, showed better performance, leading some to speculate that the new parts might not be as effective as initially thought. Hamilton himself suggested that the new upgrades could be the issue, highlighting that Russell’s car seemed more competitive on the older spec.
Despite the setbacks, Wolff has maintained that Mercedes will continue with the same upgrades for the upcoming race in Mexico, expressing confidence that the problems can be addressed. However, the team’s struggles to understand the car’s behavior, particularly under different conditions, are becoming a cause for concern. “We’re going to continue with the upgrades; it makes no sense to abandon them now. But we need to be open-minded about why the car’s performance changes so drastically,” Wolff said.
With Hamilton’s impending move to Ferrari next season, speculation is rife about his relationship with Mercedes during these final races. The Briton has brought immense success to the team, and there is no doubt that seeing him struggle has been difficult for both the driver and the fans. Yet, recent events suggest that Hamilton’s focus might already be shifting towards his future with Ferrari. The Italian team, now emerging as a contender in the Constructors’ Championship, appears to be gearing up for a competitive 2025 season, and Hamilton could be a key figure in their resurgence.
As Hamilton counts down his final races with Mercedes, it’s clear that the tension within the team is mounting. Issues with car setup, inconsistent upgrades, and a lack of trust in the engineering decisions seem to be driving a wedge between Hamilton and the team he once dominated with. For Mercedes, the challenge now is not just to finish the season on a high note but to ensure they don’t lose their reputation and competitive edge in the process.
The upcoming race in Mexico will be a crucial test for the team. If the new upgrades fail to deliver once more, it could signify the end of a turbulent chapter for Hamilton at Mercedes, one that has been marked by both triumphs and trials. For now, all eyes are on Hamilton as he navigates through these final races, hoping to end his Mercedes journey with a performance that befits his legendary status.
