Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton experienced a disappointing weekend at the US Grand Prix at the Circuit of The Americas (COTA).
Despite this setback, Mercedes-AMG team principal Toto Wolff believes the 39-year-old F1 icon will be motivated by Ferrari’s impressive performance next season.
Hamilton joined Mercedes in 2013 after winning a championship with McLaren in 2008. Since the start of the turbo-hybrid era in 2014, Hamilton and Mercedes have dominated the sport, with Hamilton securing six Drivers’ titles and the team claiming eight consecutive Constructors’ championships from 2014 to 2021.
However, the partnership has struggled since 2022 due to new Aero regulations.
Although the team has made improvements with the W15 car, it still falls short of rival teams. At COTA, Hamilton faced mechanical issues and spun out on the second lap, ending his race.
Wolff addressed Hamilton’s DNF during the post-race media session, stating, “It was an incident that came out of nowhere. He wasn’t pushing, so it’s definitely not Lewis’ fault.
” He expressed optimism about finishing the 2024 season strongly, noting, “Lewis will be looking at Ferrari, and we believe their car is fast.”
Hamilton also praised his teammate George Russell for his impressive drive, moving from pit lane to a sixth-place finish.
On Instagram, Hamilton wrote, “Not the weekend we wanted, but mega drive from @georgerussell63 to go from pit lane to P6. Well done, mate.”
This message was shared by Mercedes-AMG on X, alongside a photo of the two from the driver’s parade at Austin.
With five races remaining in the 2024 season, Hamilton and Russell are currently sixth and seventh in the driver standings, respectively.
