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Is Lewis Hamilton declining, or did he have a bad car? An in-depth look at the 2024 Formula 1 season

As the 2024 Formula 1 season unfolds, the question remains among fans, pundits and analysts as to whether seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton is in decline or whether his on-track struggles are simply the result of an underperforming car. For years, Hamilton has been the face of Formula 1 dominance, synonymous with speed, skill and record-breaking performances. But this year, the Mercedes driver has faced a series of challenges that have cast doubts on his ability to maintain his grip on the sport’s highest honors.

With the spotlight squarely on Hamilton, it’s become clear that the once untouchable champion is experiencing a season of frustration. But it remains to be seen whether this is the beginning of the end of Hamilton’s illustrious career or just a blip on a long and storied journey.

2024 season: A rocky start

Hamilton’s 2024 campaign has been far from the dominant form we expected. After years as Mercedes’ flagship driver, the British driver now faces constant imperfections in a car that doesn’t keep up with the pace of rivals like Red Bull, and while team-mate George Russell managed to extract promising results from the car, Hamilton struggled to achieve the same levels of performance. From disappointing qualifying sessions to disappointing races, Hamilton’s results have been inconsistent, especially in the first half of the season, when he made a series of uncharacteristic mistakes that fans rarely associate with the veteran. His once impeccable racing ability has come under criticism, with some analysts wondering if he may have slowed down, but is it really Hamilton’s driving that’s the problem, or the car? Cars: A constant source of frustration

One of the biggest factors contributing to Hamilton’s struggles this season has been the performance of the Mercedes W15, which has lagged significantly behind that of the competition, especially the dominant Red Bull RB20. From the beginning of the season, Mercedes engineers and Hamilton himself openly admitted that the car design was unable to match the speed and agility of the Red Bull, whose unrivalled combination of power, aerodynamics and handling continued to dominate the grid. The W15 has been described as a “refined” car, but the issues don’t just stop at straight-line speed: handling was a particular issue for Hamilton, with the car becoming noticeably unstable in corners – a key area where Hamilton has previously outperformed his rivals. A lack of rear-end stability and unpredictability in high-speed corners led to a series of errors and deviations that were no different to the relentless consistency Hamilton has shown throughout his career.

Hamilton’s relationship with his car has been a source of frustration this year. Over the course of several races, he spoke about the W15’s performance, describing it as a “step backwards” from previous seasons. In a sport where even the smallest details matter, it’s easy to see how a car that doesn’t react the way Hamilton expects it to can feel like it’s lost its grip. The fact that Mercedes has never been able to build a car that can consistently compete on the front row only adds fuel to the fire, leading many to wonder whether Hamilton can win the title again with a team that is clearly struggling with its design philosophy.

One of the most interesting trends this season has been the contrasting performances between Hamilton and teammate George Russell. The 26-year-old Briton, in only his second full season with Mercedes, has shown significant progress, regularly outpacing Hamilton in both qualifying and race results. Russell’s ability to adapt to the W15 more effectively has raised questions about whether Hamilton’s age or experience is starting to show signs of wear. While Russell’s performance was commendable, it was overshadowed by Hamilton’s, with some pointing to Hamilton’s difficulty getting the most out of the car compared to Russell as evidence that the seven-time champion may be in decline. On the other hand, some feel the comparison is not entirely fair. After all, Hamilton is still driving a car that has proven less than competitive, and Russell, although talented, is still unable to cope with the enormous pressure that Hamilton faces as the team’s number one driver.

But it is clear that Russell’s performance is forcing Hamilton to reconsider his position within the team. The younger driver is used to pushing his older teammate, and will often push Hamilton further out of the car when he appears to be struggling. It remains an open question whether Hamilton’s inability to consistently outpace Russell is a sign of decline or simply the result of issues with the car, but the fact that Russell had the advantage in some key races cannot be ignored. Another area of ​​speculation concerns the mental aspects of Hamilton’s performance. For many years, Hamilton’s unwavering focus and relentless pursuit of perfection have been his defining features. But there have been moments in 2024 when the champion has seemed visibly frustrated, especially when things haven’t gone his way. The pressure of being at the top for so long, the weight of expectations and the burden of always being compared to his peers could all combine to take a mental toll. Hamilton has always been a resilient driver, able to weather storms and bounce back from setbacks, but rare comments about his future in the sport suggest the 39-year-old may be considering his legacy and the possibility of retiring from F1 sooner than expected. Only Hamilton can truly know if this change of heart is due to the car not performing well enough or a sign of waning motivation. So is Lewis Hamilton in decline? It’s hard to say for sure. There are certainly some eyebrow-raising aspects of his performance this season, especially compared to his successful spell with Mercedes, but Hamilton’s struggles this year could more likely be down to the limitations of the W15, which has failed to live up to expectations. The reality is that F1 is a sport that is as much about the car as it is the driver, and Hamilton’s success last season can be attributed, in part, to the incredible performance of his car.

For now, it’s clear that Hamilton’s talent and achievements are undeniable. It remains to be seen whether he can rise to the challenge and help Mercedes close the gap on Red Bull, or whether he is truly in the twilight of his career. One thing is for sure: fans will be holding their breath to see if Hamilton can silence the doubters and reclaim his place at the top, or if 2024 will be remembered as the year Lewis Hamilton’s legend came to a slow and painful end.