Lewis Hamilton’s challenging final season with Mercedes in 2024 raised questions about his form and future, but fellow driver Nico Hülkenberg has come to the defense of the seven-time World Champion. Hülkenberg insists Hamilton remains one of the most formidable talents on the grid, despite a season marred by underperformance and frustration.
A Tough Year for Hamilton at Mercedes
Hamilton’s 2024 season was far from the dominance fans have come to expect. He finished a disappointing seventh in the Drivers’ Championship, 22 points behind teammate George Russell, who outqualified him 19 times in 24 races.
Mercedes struggled with the temperamental W15, a car ill-suited to Hamilton’s late-braking driving style and the current era of ground-effect aerodynamics and 18-inch Pirelli tires.
The nadir came at the Qatar Grand Prix, where Hamilton’s pace deficit to Russell left him questioning his abilities.
“I’m just slow, same every weekend,” Hamilton said after a tough qualifying session. “The car felt relatively decent. No issues. Not really much more to say.”
Hülkenberg: “Never Discount Lewis”
Hülkenberg, now one of the elder statesmen of the F1 grid alongside Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, believes the Briton’s struggles were more about frustration than a decline in skill.
“It is just about timing, and I think he had a weak moment,” Hülkenberg told RacingNews365.
“He was disappointed after a poor qualifying. George [Russell] is a very fast and complete driver already. He’s put in strong performances and has good momentum, so even when you’re as experienced as Lewis, it can get to you.”
Hülkenberg pointed to Hamilton’s stunning performance at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, where he climbed from 10th on the grid to finish second, as proof of his enduring talent.
“You saw in Las Vegas how good Lewis is. He came from P10 to [P2], and you should never discount him. He’s still going great.”
The Ferrari Chapter Begins
Hamilton has acknowledged that managing his final year at Mercedes while preparing for a new chapter at Ferrari was far tougher than he anticipated.
“The first meeting with Toto [Wolff] at the beginning of the year was awkward, of course,” Hamilton revealed. “It was awkward from the get-go to the day after when I took some of the team paintballing, and they had just found out.”
Hamilton admitted he underestimated the emotional toll of racing a full season with one team while planning for a future elsewhere.
“I anticipated it would be difficult, but massively underestimated how difficult it would be.”
What’s Next for Hamilton?
Now heading to Ferrari for the 2025 season, Hamilton is tasked with leading the Scuderia back to championship contention. While the transition from Mercedes is a gamble, Hamilton’s tenacity and skill make him a driver capable of excelling under pressure. As Hülkenberg noted, writing off Hamilton would be a mistake.
Hamilton himself remains optimistic about his ability to adapt and prove doubters wrong at Ferrari, setting the stage for one of the most anticipated chapters of his illustrious career.