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Lewis Hamilton Reveals Mercedes “Can’t Get Much Quicker” Ahead of Shocking Ferrari Move

Published 02/23/2024, 11:55 AM EST

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via Reuters

Lewis Hamilton the seven-time world champion, seemed quite off his game in 2023. Although he finished third, he was only up on 6 podiums and won zero Grand Prix. This might have been frustrating for him and could be the reason for his switch to sign a Ferrari contract after the season. More about this is revealed with the new season of Drive to Survive.

As the 6th season of Driver to Survive is out, fans can see in the first episode itself that neither George Russell nor Lewis Hamilton were happy with the W14 spec. Some of the major problems of the W14 were highlighted by Lewis Hamilton as recorded by Netflix, and the reason for the Ferrari switch became more evident.

Drive to Survive reveals Lewis Hamilton’s problem with the W14

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Before the 2023 season, all the teams were preparing their new car to take to the tracks. But while all the cars were being tested, Lewis Hamilton pointed out that the Mercedes was not up to the mark. In the first episode of the 6th season of Drive to Survive, fans can watch Hamilton drive the car during the qualifying rounds.

via Imago

In the qualifying rounds, George Russell ended up coming P5, and while showing Hamilton’s footage, the Briton said, “Struggling to turn the car a little bit. Can’t get much quicker.” Upon finishing P6, Hamilton said, “That was not an Easy Lap,” expressing his disbelief in the car.

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Later on, Fernando Alonso overtook the two Mercedes drivers while driving the Aston Martin AMR23, replacing George for P5 and pushing Lewis to P7. This might have been disappointing considering that the person who started their first face at P7, has been the World Champion 7 times. While 7 might be a lucky number for many, it was definitely not Hamilton’s that day. But the W15 has some significant upgrades over its older brother.

Will the W15 be any better than its predecessor?

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George Russell has taken a spin on the W15 and the verdict is out. SI reported the 26-year-old’s experience in the car for the first time and it looks like he was quite pleased with the results. According to Russell, the car has increased confidence in tackling medium and high-speed corners. This means the car is more stable and can handle better than the ones reported last year.

via Reuters

The W14 struggled with handling issues, but the W15 addressed them. However, Russell noted the need for more downforce. He also discussed Mercedes’ competitiveness compared to rivals. He mentioned that Mercedes has a lot to catch up on compared to Red Bull‘s performance last year.

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Mercedes seems to have lost its advantage since Lewis Hamilton’s planned departure. The outlook for Mercedes in 2025 appears challenging. Despite this, can the W15 be the car that leads Mercedes to victory?

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Written by:

Viren Mirpuri

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Viren Mirpuri is an F1 Writer at EssentiallySports. With a Degree in Mass Media and a Specialization in Journalism, Viren is known for his speedy race day coverage outside of discussing the engine technicalities. Whether he's dissecting the latest technical innovations or unraveling the drama on and off the track, he ensures that his readers stay engaged and informed.
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Edited by:

Abhishek Manikandan