Lewis Hamilton News: F1 champion vulnerable to TRICKS amid Mercedes 'power shift’

Photo: © IMAGO

Latest F1 News

Hamilton vulnerable to TRICKS amid Mercedes 'power shift’

Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes exit could have consequences for his 2024 season

Sheona Mountford F1 Journalist

Motorsport journalist working in F1 since 2024.

Monday 12 August 2024 12:58

Lewis Hamilton has been left vulnerable to tricks after a power shift at Mercedes according to a former Formula 1 driver.

The seven-time world champion will depart the team for Ferrari at the end of this year after announcing the shock move earlier this year.

F1 HEADLINES: Verstappen anger 'costly' as Newey ally hints at SHOCK Red Bull exit

Article continues under video

His final season with the Brackley-based outfit got off to a less than ideal opening, with the Mercedes star enduring what he described as his ‘worst start’ to a season ever.

Furthermore, the seven-time champion was consistently out-qualified by his team-mate George Russell, with Hamilton hinting at favouritism within the team in Monaco.

The 2024 season has been a mixed bag for Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton has struggled to beat his team-mate George Russell in qualifying

Johnny Herbert reveals Mercedes ‘power shift’

Mercedes’ performance has since improved, allowing Russell to claim a win in Austria, and Hamilton to achieve victories at Silverstone and Spa, the latter of which he inherited after his team-mate was disqualified.

However, despite his win, F1 race winner Johnny Herbert believes that the strategy that took place during the Belgian Grand Prix demonstrated a ‘power shift’ that could leave Hamilton vulnerable in the future.

“I would be very surprised if Mercedes are working against Lewis Hamilton,” Herbert told TopOffShoreSportsBooks.com after the Belgian GP.

“Lewis mentioned his tyres were good but the rears were going off. He is very good at knowing what is underneath him. He has that feel.

Johnny Herbert discusses 'power shift' in Mercedes

“But was he kept out of that loop of George’s team and what they were thinking?

“I don’t know how it is within Mercedes with regards to instructions being shared.

“Maybe within the window of Lewis’s pitstop that decision had not been made. But was it delayed, and if so on purpose? Possibly.

“The question is would a driver do that to his team-mate and try to hide it?

“The answer is ‘Yes, you would,’ George is in a more powerful position now to control all that and his destiny because he can play that game as he is going to be there next year.

"He is the one Mercedes will be backing.”

Max Verstappen Lewis Hamilton Ferrari Mercedes Daniel Ricciardo George Russell