In a turn of events that evoked memories of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix drama, Lewis Hamilton revealed that his renewed contract with Mercedes is driven by a sense of ‘unresolved quest’ within Formula 1.
Recalling the 2021 season finale, Hamilton was tantalizingly close to clinching his eighth world championship title until a controversial call by the then-race director disrupted the standard rulebook, allowing Max Verstappen to swoop in and snatch the championship away from the British racer.
Since that incident, Hamilton has remained stagnant at seven championships, playing second fiddle to Verstappen and his Red Bull squad, who have outmaneuvered everyone by adapting swiftly to new technical regulations.
Speaking at Monza right after the announcement of his two-year contract extension, Hamilton stated that his aim to secure additional world titles is what’s fueling his continuation in the sport.
The sentiment within the F1 community is hardly covert: both Hamilton and Mercedes harbor the belief that they were unjustly denied their rightful victory at Yas Marina Circuit. This conviction has compounded the challenges of their subsequent seasons, marked by a decline in competitiveness due to their struggle to fully exploit the new rule changes.
Fast-forward to age 38, Hamilton can’t erase the memories of that fateful evening in Abu Dhabi, but insists that his new contract focuses on the future, not on past grudges.
“I’m not fueled by revenge,” Hamilton clarified. “What’s done is done. However, the path ahead is teeming with opportunities to clinch more world championships with this incredible team. That’s where my focus and energy are committed.”
Hamilton already owns the record for the most wins and pole positions, but matching Michael Schumacher’s championship record was halted by the contentious decisions made by Michael Masi in November 2021 regarding race restart protocols.
What makes the fall from grace even more striking for Mercedes is their history of sheer domination from 2014 to 2020. Few foresaw that a comprehensive overhaul of technical regulations for 2022 would leave them scrambling to catch up.
Hamilton’s frankness about the team’s missteps isn’t new. He had previously voiced his dissatisfaction with Mercedes’ engineering approach, which failed to adapt despite glaring signs of uncompetitiveness.
Nonetheless, Hamilton is optimistic about the team’s future. “Setting goals is easy, achieving them is the hard part. The pursuit of perfection is never-ending, and that’s what makes this sport addictive,” he observed.
His sentiments were echoed by teammate George Russell, who recently re-energized his season and believes in Mercedes’ imminent resurgence. “This is just the starting point,” Russell opined.
As Hamilton gears up to compete beyond the age of 40, he joins an exclusive club of generational talents. And while he acknowledges the longevity of Fernando Alonso, it’s NFL icon Tom Brady who serves as Hamilton’s prime example of an athlete defying age.
Hamilton’s renewed contract followed lengthy negotiations that went beyond discussions of terms and remuneration, finally aligning with George Russell’s contract extension.
Russell, who has been associated with Mercedes since his teen years, asserted that their long-term relationship had never been in question. After a dip in performance this summer, Russell is buoyant about the future. “I’ve regained my groove,” he said, sharing Hamilton’s belief that Mercedes will soon reclaim their spot at the pinnacle of F1.
So buckle up, F1 fans. Lewis Hamilton may be saying it’s not about revenge, but one can’t help but think that a little poetic justice could be just the thing to get the Mercedes engines roaring again.
