Lewis Hamilton looks back and explains why the past two winless years have not been the most difficult period of his career
103 race wins, 104 pole positions and seven world championships in 17 years in Formula 1 – Lewis Hamilton is statistically the most successful driver in motorsport’s premier class to date. However, the 38-year-old Mercedes driver, who is spoiled for success, has been waiting for his next success for over two years, having previously celebrated at least one race win per year in 15 Formula 1 seasons
Although Hamilton has been on a dry spell in terms of race wins since Jeddah 2021, he refuses to describe the past two years as the most difficult period of his career: “I think that’s a fallacy. I also had difficult years as a younger driver. The 2009 car was terrible and we were only able to win a race that season thanks to the second upgrade.”
“The years 2010 and 2011 weren’t particularly great either. Once I struggled and once the car wasn’t really good,” explains Hamilton, but at the same time admits: “If you just look at the wins, it’s probably the longest dry spell of my career, but if you take away the race wins, the seasons were pretty similar. “
Latest form with worst numbers
A look at the figures only goes some way to backing up Hamilton’s claim. In 2009, the Briton finished fifth with two wins and seven other podium finishes. A year later, with three wins, five second places and two third places, he was in contention for the drivers’ world championship right up to the end of the season. And in 2011, the result was similar with three wins and three second places.
With the introduction of the new aerodynamic concept in 2022, Mercedes and Hamilton were no longer able to fight for victories with a similar frequency. In 2022, the Briton even finished in sixth place with nine podium finishes – the worst final position of his career
In addition, it was Russell, who had just joined the team, and not the established world champion Hamilton, who clinched the only Mercedes victory of the season in Brazil.
Hamilton sees himself as having matured even further personally
The figures for 2023 read much more favorably, with six podiums, one pole position, third place in the world championship and a clearly beaten Russell.
“I think I’ve learned a lot on a mental level, how to keep myself mentally fit and stay positive,” explains Hamilton. He attributes this development primarily to new “tools” that he has acquired over the past two years and added to his “arsenal”. I’m 38, almost 39, and I feel great in my body. That’s also down to the new tools I’ve acquired over the past two years.” He also spends his time away from the race track differently now, which allows him to do “a much better job” when it comes to “staying focused and building up energy”.
However, two years without a win have not left Hamilton unscathed: “When you’ve been through two difficult seasons like that, you automatically get to the point where you ask yourself: ‘Is it me or the car? Do you still have what it takes to be successful or have you lost it? Because only when everything comes together does something magical happen. Then the driver and car develop that special extra spark that you are always looking for, of course.”
Hamilton emphasizes that self-doubt is normal, even for a record-breaking world champion: “I’m still human and anyone who says they are free from self-doubt is deluding themselves. “
