Six-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton says the current season has been the “hardest” for Mercedes, given the loss of Niki Lauda, and the competition the team faced.
Non-Executive Chairman Lauda played an instrumental role within Mercedes throughout the hybrid era, and was influential in the recruitment of Hamilton for 2013, before passing away earlier this year.
Hamilton has taken 10 wins from 19 races this year and wrapped up his sixth world title with two races to spare – as he did in 2017 and 2018 – by finishing runner-up at last weekend’s United States Grand Prix.
“It’s been the hardest year for us as a team,” said Hamilton.
“We lost Niki this year. A crucial member and a real pivotal member of our team and the emotional rollercoaster that we’ve been on with losing him.
“There was a race where I didn’t have [race engineer] Bono here, outside of the car, just trying to remain focused throughout the year.
“That is the toughest, and only really other athletes who are at the top of their game can really, probably relate to it, probably because it’s just: arrive: week-in, week-out, can’t drop the ball – like I did [in qualifying] for example – and being about to bounce back from the tough… the lower days.”
On Mercedes’ W10 through this year Hamilton stressed it has “Not been easy for us.
“We started the season honestly going off to Melbourne thinking that we were going to be behind.
“Mid-point of the season we were behind, and it’s been a real challenge, this second half of the season.
“It’s been the toughest second half of the season that I think we’ve had as a team, fighting against Ferrari and Red Bull, which is great, we welcome that.
“Every year you go through a different rollercoaster ride of emotions to get to where you’re going.
“Each and every single one of us is struggling with something in life. Whatever it may be: small, big. I tried to show people that, from the outside, things always look great but it’s not always the case.
“And I am also struggling with lots of different things and battling certain demons and trying to make sure that I’m constantly growing as a person.
“I think [qualifying] was something that was sent to test me, and I was able to do one of my favourite races, I think. I was really happy with that one.”
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