Every so often, there are certain moments, certain decisions that can single handedly change the course of a team’s history.
Lewis Hamilton leaving Mercedes is one of them.
Perhaps Hamilton had already completed his chapter with Mercedes. Perhaps there is nothing more he ever could have given the team after six championships and countless wins.
But there’s no way to know for sure.
Simply put, Hamilton’s decision to leave Mercedes will throw the team into an era it thought it wouldn’t have to face for another couple years at least.
The era where Lewis Hamilton isn’t there.
This places Mercedes in an awkward spot for 2024. Hamilton’s departure at the end of the season has already dampened much of the mood. During the team’s car reveal showcase, fans noted the event felt placid and toned down compared to past years.
But enough talk about emotions and morale. The key is always the car. Mercedes has had one of the more complicated cars on the grid since 2022. The W13 featured a revolutionary zero sidepod design that failed to live up to expectations. 2023’s W14 abandoned this concept for a more traditional design.
Through all of this, Mercedes would go from looking like a clear-cut second best, to getting beat by their customer teams such as Aston Martin and McLaren.
The driver pairing of Hamilton and George Russell helped negate some of the inconsistencies that have plagued Mercedes for two years now. With the W15, Mercedes hopes to provide their elite driver pairing with a car up to their caliber.
The W15 acts as more of a revolution than an evolution. It features yet another new sidepod design, plus an elaborate front wing design that has captured the attention of rival teams and the media.
The main question comes down to how the new chassis works with the rest of the car. One of the main hurdles Mercedes have had with their midseason upgrades is the chassis not being designed for said upgrades.
Chassis upgrades are extremely difficult to introduce in the middle of the season, so the offseason provides teams with an opportunity to design the chassis in a way that complements the other upgrades they have brought.
With this opportunity, Mercedes will be hoping they got their concept right this time around. Because now, there won’t be a next year for Mercedes to win a title with Lewis Hamilton. 2024 is their last chance.
For two years now, Mercedes has failed to take the giant leap to get back to their championship ways. Midseason upgrades have done little more than keep them afloat in the top 3 of the standings. Some would argue these failures led the way to Hamilton feeling he needed a change.
It’s too late now to change Hamilton’s mind. And perhaps Mercedes still won’t manage to take the giant leap they need. Regardless, ending the Lewis Hamilton era with another winless season would be a massive disappointment, and leave things on a sour note.
For the sake of their future, Mercedes has to avoid that at all costs in 2024.
Image courtesy of F1.com
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