Lewis Hamilton Reveals the Astonishing Secret Behind McLaren’s F1 Revival
Formula 1 has seen astonishing highs and lows since its inception, but this season's drama revolves around McLaren's resurgence. According to seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, McLaren’s resurgence solidly indicates that the Mercedes engine isn’t the culprit behind his team's struggles. 'We've always known that the engine's not the problem,' Hamilton reassures.
McLaren, starting last season grappling with an underdeveloped car, clawed their way back with mid-season updates. This dramatic turnaround crystalized further in 2024, where an upgrade package in Miami saw Lando Norris claiming his maiden F1 victory. This progression leaves an important question: if McLaren, using Mercedes powertrains, can achieve such meteoric highs, why can't Mercedes themselves edge closer to Red Bull's dominance?
The McLaren-Mercedes Paradox
Hamilton praises his former team's accomplishments, highlighting how they’ve validated the prowess of the Mercedes engine. 'The engine’s great. The guys have continued to do an amazing job in terms of developing that technology,' Hamilton asserts. While Mercedes struggles with car-side issues, the powertrain remains uncompromised in performance and reliability.
Oscar Piastri in qualifying parc ferme" />Hamilton’s reflections dive deeper into why this situation is both encouraging and concerning. 'We know on the car side, we haven’t done the best of jobs in the last couple of years and we’re working as hard as we can to rectify that,' Hamilton admits. This candid acknowledgment underlines a commitment from Mercedes to push their limits and refocus their engineering clout.
A Homecoming of Sorts
Hamilton’s connection to McLaren is steeped in history and triumphs. He joined F1 with McLaren in 2008, dazzling the world alongside then-reigning champion Fernando Alonso. Despite narrowly missing the championship in his rookie season, he clinched his first title during his sophomore year with the team. However, Hamilton left McLaren in 2012 searching for greener pastures, whilst McLaren dropped into one of their roughest periods.
The solitary win up until Norris' breakthrough in Miami signifies a renaissance of sorts for McLaren. Hamilton’s pride in McLaren's achievements is palpable. 'It warms my heart because I was there for such a long time [from 2007 to 2012] and they gave me my break,' he shared.
Future Prospects
Addressing Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri's performances, Hamilton is filled with admiration. 'I think he [Norris] is doing a great job,' Hamilton added in Monaco last week. 'Oscar [Piastri] is also doing a really great job as well.' Hamilton reiterates that their performances, though occasionally unlucky, exemplify the kind of effort that paves the path to success, urging that McLaren’s trajectory serves as an inspiration to other teams struggling to bridge the gap with the frontrunners.
Hamilton’s reflections are almost prophetic for teams hoping to rise from the ashes. 'They [McLaren] have just shown that you can close the gap and you can catch up if the job’s done right. It’s inspired us all to get on it,' he concludes.
This season promises more thrilling twists as teams get inspired by each other, power through challenges, and continuously recalibrate their strategies. One thing is clear: the Mercedes engine is definitely not the limitation. For Mercedes' engineering team, the silver lining hinges on recalibrating their chassis to regain dominance.