Mercedes: Hamilton is more fulfilled and focused than ever
Runner-up in the drivers' championship but with three victories in the first four Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton has achieved the best season start of his career. A situation that both Niki Lauda and he attribute notably to his more structured personal life.
Even though he is not the leader of the World Drivers’ Championship, Lewis Hamilton is unquestionably the man of the season’s start, after three consecutive victories in the three races he has been able to finish this season in Malaysia, Bahrain, and China. He is also the author of three out of four pole positions, in Australia, Malaysia, and China – all three on wet tracks, incidentally.
More than the victories, it’s the attitude that seems to have evolved, with a driver who is calmer and more involved. This is what he explains to our colleagues at Autosport: « I am in the happiest state of mind I can remember. » The Chinese Grand Prix was ideal for the Briton: « It was just an incredible weekend. A great qualification and I didn’t expect it to be like that. In the race, getting an excellent start and pulling away, and controlling from there, it was an incredible feeling. »
This situation is the result of several factors: « The work that the guys do, and the guys around me, make me feel much more comfortable with the people I work with this year. I am able to extract the most from the engineers, so I feel that we are doing a good job with the settings. »
A more organized personal life?
The personal life of Lewis Hamilton has always been among the most scrutinized – as it is among the most highlighted, by the driver himself – and has often played a role that some, like Alain Prost at the end of last year, have deemed detrimental to the smooth progress of his sports career.
When asked if that played a role, the 2008 World Champion confirms: « It’s a combination of things. It’s where you are with your life, your family, your girlfriend, where I live. Everything. And having the right people by your side. My management, being in the right team, and now this season I’m just able to show up and drive without other worries. And, obviously, I have an excellent car and a great group of people to work with. »
Lauda believes he focused on performance
Niki Lauda, non-executive director of Mercedes, also noted this change and, for him, it is the basis of his current level: « The only thing he may have sometimes forgotten in the past was full concentration. He would bring dogs to the circuit, he had a whole entourage of people. When the dogs were there, I would just tell him to refocus on himself, to drop the baggage, and to concentrate at 120%, » the Austrian told the German television channel RTL in reference.
« Now, he is delivering the performances expected of him. If he hadn’t retired in Melbourne, he probably could have won there as well, » he says. The Australian Grand Prix was won by Nico Rosberg, who had a solo race, while Lewis Hamilton had to retire as early as the 2nd lap due to a cylinder problem on his turbo V6.
Tambay: Rosberg is “more tense”
Nico Rosberg, moreover, appears to be struggling according to Patrick Tambay, a Formula 1 driver between 1977 and 1986 with Renault, Ferrari, and McLaren, and now a consultant for RMC: « There are still many races. With equal status at Mercedes, Nico has shown that he is slightly inferior to Hamilton, but the season is long. » However, he notes a change in attitude: « Previously, we saw a very jovial, very smiling Nico, but now he seems a bit more tense. »
