Lewis Hamilton’s recent admission of being below his peak performance in Formula One for over a year has sent ripples through the motorsport community. After the Hungarian Grand Prix, Hamilton openly acknowledged the challenges he’s faced, primarily stemming from the underperforming Mercedes car.
Despite claiming pole position in Budapest, Hamilton couldn’t maintain his lead, losing out to Max Verstappen at the start and subsequently being overtaken by the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. However, he showcased his resilience by battling back to secure a fourth-place finish, demonstrating glimpses of his former brilliance in the final stages of the race.
Last season, Hamilton finished sixth in the world championship, and this year has seen him secure only four podiums. After the Hungarian GP, Hamilton candidly admitted that he hasn’t been at his best for more than a year. He did mention that the Saturday’s performance felt like a return to form, but when asked to elaborate, he admitted it was a combination of his own performance and the car’s limitations.
One clear issue Hamilton pointed out was the lack of race pace in the Mercedes at the Hungaroring. He emphasized that they don’t have the fastest car and expressed pride in his efforts to secure pole position despite the challenges.
Hamilton conceded that the fight was not with Max Verstappen, who already had a quicker car, but instead with the McLarens, which ultimately proved too fast for the Mercedes.
In an amusing sidelight, Max Verstappen found himself with a broken trophy as McLaren’s Lando Norris accidentally knocked it off the podium’s top step during the post-race celebrations. Norris and Verstappen, being friends, had a light-hearted exchange about the incident, with Norris deflecting the blame onto Verstappen.
Hamilton’s public acknowledgment of his struggles and the challenges posed by his car has sparked discussions about the state of Mercedes in Formula One. Fans and experts are now eagerly awaiting the upcoming races to see if Hamilton can overcome these obstacles and return to his peak form.