Lewis Hamilton’s challenging beginning to the 2024 Formula 1 season has sparked debates about his move to Ferrari.
Ferrari’s Triumph: Ferrari’s stellar performance at the Australian Grand Prix contrasts starkly with Mercedes’ struggles, raising questions about Hamilton’s switch.
Hamilton’s Disappointment: Hamilton voices frustration with his team’s lackluster performance, deeming it the worst start to a season in his illustrious career.
Optimism at Ferrari: Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner suggests Hamilton could secure his eighth world title at Ferrari with the anticipated regulations overhaul in 2026.
“Nothing is impossible. In 2026 there are completely new regulations engine and chassis wise, so the cars are being redone then. And if he gets a little bit luck and is in the right place, if Ferrari produces a good car, it could be possible that he gets his eighth championship.” – Guenther Steiner
Engine Woes: Mercedes technical director James Allison admits uncertainty over the cause of Hamilton’s power unit failure in Melbourne, highlighting challenges for the team.
“The power units will return to the safe hands of the guys at Brixworth, who will be able to figure out what let go. All we know is the symptoms at the time, which was a rapid loss of oil pressure followed by a shutdown of the engine to protect it, because when you know you’ve got catastrophic loss like that, the best thing you can do for the future is kill it there and then. No doubt as soon as we know (the cause), they will jump to with their characteristic energy to make sure that any risk that happens on any other engine is mitigated as best we can.” – James Allison
Challenges for Mercedes: F1 commentator Martin Brundle sheds light on the difficulties Hamilton faced with his Mercedes car during the Australian Grand Prix, raising concerns about the team’s performance.
“When I was out on track on Friday it appeared to me that Lewis Hamilton’s Merc was perhaps the most difficult to drive. Through the high-speed chicane which makes up turns one and two, the car was all over the place. For the third consecutive season, they haven’t hit the sweet spot with this era of ground-effect cars, and then can’t seem to contain the unpredictability of performance thereafter.” – Martin Brundle
Upcoming Races: With the F1 season continuing, all eyes are on the Japanese Grand Prix next weekend as Hamilton and Mercedes aim to bounce back.
Credit: Fox Sports Australia
