With the kind of trajectory Lewis Hamilton has witnessed in his F1 career, it is hard to imagine seeing him struggling. Although the 2022 season showed just exactly how even the 7-time champion could struggle with a horrific car. But, 2022 was not the first time Lewis faced adversity with his machinery. Back in 2009, McLaren had dropped the ball badly; after a victorious title campaign for Hamilton.

2009 was the year when a major aero regulation change switched the pecking order of the F1 grid. McLaren and Ferrari were the top two teams in the last 2 years and were suddenly struggling. This left defending champion Hamilton frustrated. Although Lewis ensured that his team was aware of his frustration.

In Turkey, Lewis was not able to keep up with his arch-rival, Fernando Alonso, and his Renault. The slow pace of the McLaren car triggered the Briton to put a verbal onslaught on the radio. As per Crash.net, Lewis said, “It’s embarrassing. I can’t even keep up with the fr**king Renault in front of me.”

“My tires have gone off, I’m heavier than a fr**king boat. Guys, you need to build a new car, we need a new car to win these races.”

Hamilton was livid that Alonso’s Renault, which was relatively slower a year ago, was suddenly faster than his. It may have been a torrid experience to drive the heavy MP4-24 car. Eventually, Lewis finished the 2009 Turkish GP in 13th place.

Read More: F1 Admits Lewis Hamilton’s Biggest 2022 Problem Was “Simply Forgotten” in Pre-season Analysis

The 2022 season may have reminded the 7-time champion of the horror story of his McLaren days. This season had several parallels with Lewis’s 2009 season at McLaren. Though, Lewis won a couple of races back then, despite the car being slower.

How Lewis Hamilton won Races in 2009 despite a struggling McLaren

McLaren could not focus much on the 2009 regulation change due to its tight championship battle with Ferrari in 2008. While both teams carried on their development in that year’s car; teams like Red Bull were preparing to shake up the order in the new regulations era.

As a result, Lewis Hamilton was reeling with a slow and heavy car that was potentially inefficient to fight at the front. Still, the Woking team managed to salvage the season as the year progressed. The team eventually caught up with Red Bull and Brawn GP, who were leading the pack that season.

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Going into the 2nd half of the season, Hamilton picked up his first win of the year in Budapest. The Briton won the Hungarian GP from 4th on the grid, while his teammate Heikki Kovalainen secured a top-5 finish.

Post-Hungary, Lewis also took 4 pole positions in the rest of the season, showing his immense one-lap pace. Though he only managed to win one of those races in Singapore, his only other win of 2009. Yet, it was a good consolation for the defending champion, considering McLaren’s horrific start to the year.

WATCH THIS STORY: How Lewis Hamilton salvaged the 2009 season with the Worst Car

While Hamilton has achieved multiple podiums in 2022, his streak of winning every season is over. 2009 was perhaps his worst season before this year, thus the team radio onslaught may have occurred. What do you think of Hamilton’s verbal rant on the team radio at McLaren?