Share this article

Lewis Hamilton vs Mercedes: Who Deserves Credit for Their Success in Formula One

Published 08/04/2020, 12:16 AM EDT

Follow Us

2014 marked the last year for Red Bull’s reign in Formula 1, as the Mercedes F1 team were itching to overthrow the Milton-Keynes-based outfit. Lewis Hamilton has bagged every Drivers’ Championship bar the 2016 title. That honor went to Nico Rosberg after a hard-fought dogfight. However, Mercedes has swept the Constructors’ Championship.

America’s Favorite Video Today

So, this begs the question, who really deserves the credit for their success? It is true that the competitiveness kicked off when Hamilton joined the team in 2013.

However, is it fair to say that Hamilton’s arrival was the reason only reason behind the team’s massive surge in form? Truthfully, Nico Rosberg, Michael Schumacher, and Ross Brawn played a big role in developing the Mercedes car since 2010.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

WATCH: A Calm Peter Bonnington Guides Lewis Hamilton to Victory in a Nail Biting Last Lap Finish

However, the induction of the legendary Niki Lauda and the Austrian business tycoon, Toto Wolff, brought in the winds of change.

Lauda actually lobbied for the team to sign Lewis Hamilton from the McLaren team at the end of the 2012 season. Admittedly, Hamilton did need a year to be competitive, grabbing a win, four podiums, and finishing 4th in the Championship.

Who is the architect of success – Mercedes or Lewis Hamilton?

Then 2014 came with a massive rules overhaul, and Mercedes took capital advantage. Since then, the juggernaut has been unstoppable, and both cars always pranced their way to glory.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

However, Lewis Hamilton was the first to see the chequered flag, nine times out of 10. Without a doubt, Lewis Hamilton is exceptionally talented, but can he be solely credited for Mercedes’ dominance?

Trending

2.2k readers Last 30 min

Get instantly notified of the hottest F1 stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

Can a team’s success be attributed to just one man? Logically, Lewis Hamilton is merely the driver, and even his teammates Rosberg and Valtteri Bottas, have been performing well.

Providing feedback will help us make your experience better.

The Fan's Perspective

Enjoyed Your Read? Let us know how likely you are to recommend EssentiallySports to your friends!

Least Likely

Most Likely

So, this can only prove that it is the team that deserves to be credited for their success.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

After all, Formula One is a team sport, and Hamilton is just one cog in a well-oiled machine. One can also say that the team interpreted the regulations far better than anyone else, which is another reason behind their dynastic dominance.

On the other hand, Hamilton is undeniably the Numero Uno driver.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

ADVERTISEMENT

Dhruv George

14104 articles

Dhruv George is a senior Formula One and NASCAR analyst for EssentiallySports, having authored nearly 12000 articles spanning different sports like F1, NASCAR, Tennis, NFL, and eSports. He graduated with a PG Diploma in Journalism from the Xavier Institute of Communications. Dhruv has also conducted interviews with F1 driver Pierre Gasly and Moto2 rider Tony Arbolino.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

EDITORS' PICK