Hamilton's Mercedes Departure: Fallout from Technical Spat Unveiled?
Feb.23 - Lewis Hamilton's decision to leave Mercedes might be traced back to technical disagreements last year.
This week, former Ferrari driver Mika Salo said the seven time world champion's decision to swap Mercedes for Maranello makes little sense to him.
"I believe Hamilton knows something that the rest of us do not yet know," the Finn told Iltalehti newspaper.
And as the new season of the Netflix series Drive To Survive now hits TV screens, it emerges that Hamilton, 39, was particularly bruised by his advice to Mercedes bosses as they struggled with their 2023 car concept.
Hamilton began complaining of his cockpit position in 2022, and was dismayed that it remained the same for 2023. For 2024, that issue has now been resolved with the all-new Mercedes concept.
But it may have come too late, with the British driver only agreeing a single-year contract for 2024 late last year with a further driver-triggered option for 2025.
In an interview for the latest Drive To Survive season, Hamilton said: "I remember complaining to the team and being like, 'Look, we have to make these changes, otherwise this is the trajectory we're going to go on and this is where we're going to end up'.
'Please, please do something about it'," he recalls pleading. "I remember they said, like 'We know what we're doing. You're wrong'.
"That was definitely an interesting moment," Hamilton admitted. "I was like, ok, I'll step back, I don't want to step on anybody's toes.
"Then when we got into the season, then we spoke again (and they said) 'Oh, maybe you were right'."
The implication is that Hamilton lost faith in Mercedes' ability to give him a shot at winning a record eighth' drivers' world title before his career ended.
"I can't really remember winning," Hamilton said. "It's been a minute, to be honest. I don't remember what that feeling is."
In another scene from 2023, as Wolff and Hamilton discussed the latter's contract extension in front of the Netflix cameras, Hamilton told his boss: "You can be here for like 20 more years, 30 more years. I can't.
"These are precious years for me."
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I'm unsurprised if he really doesn't remember what winning is like as he's said on several occasions during his F1 career that his memory is short generally.
Well, I'm kind of surprised and disappointed to read that The Dame can't remember what it feels like to win a race. He's driven in 332 of them.
Of the 197 podiums, 103 (52.2%) have been wins. To have won 103 races in his career is an amazing feat - and to forget what that feeling is like - just beggars the imagination.
BTW, Max has started 185 races, been on the podium 98 times and with 54 wins (55.1%).
55.1% and counting.go max go
you can say all you like the Hannah faithfull will still say the Dames better in everyway, Max is exciting to watch and listen too, Lulus just full of , cos im black aint it shite, yes hes going to Ferrari , but only cos the Merc board wouldn't play ball Re his demands,best decision the Bod have made
Thumbs up shrop
Thumbs up from me too
What a line of marakey. He can’t remember, who is he kidding? Such the drama person.
If there was a world championship for creating useless statistics and remembering them you lot would all be world champions.
Ask any world champion if they remember what made them winners and I guarantee they would remember.
Is she gone yet
I'd ignore these yokels but good on you...:-)
Will be fun to watch Lewis making over Ferrari. Bet the team can’t wait to hear Hannah’s demands on diversity. Wish we didn’t have to wait another year.
I dont think his Dog/Child will like the Italian temps, mind you he will so rarely be at the factory it wont be a problem.
Bulldogs can’t tolerate heat. The good part about Hannah, his taste in dogs, definitely not clothing choices.
No doubt ferrari will need 3 toilets.men ,women,and undecided yet
Hahaha........Hannah
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