Lewis Hamilton has insisted he hasn’t been “holding anything back” with his feedback to Mercedes in the 2024 Formula 1 season despite his impending exit to Ferrari.
Hamilton produced a bombshell prior to the ongoing campaign beginning as he elected to trigger a break clause in his Mercedes deal to agree a 2025 move to Ferrari.
A departing driver tends to be all but guaranteed to see their existing team exclude them from discussions or matters related to the development of next season’s car.
But while he conceded that was “inevitable” earlier this term, Hamilton has continued to participate in the experiments that Mercedes has conducted in recent rounds.
Mercedes has admitted the remaining three races will also act as tests as the side vows to understand the issues that have emanated from its latest update package.
Even though he will not stand to gain from the input that he provides, Hamilton has expressed that he has not been tempted to withhold his true thoughts on the W15.
Explaining his approach, the Briton, who has been with Mercedes since 2013, stated that he is determined to help the German marque return to the top in his absence.
Asked whether it has been odd to be doing data gathering when he is leaving, Hamilton told media including Motorsport Week: “I wouldn’t say that it feels odd.
“Ultimately every bit of input that I put in now, along with George’s [Russell], for example, is contributing to the development forwards.
“But that’s the job, that’s what I’m paid for. I’m not holding anything back from any class sessions.
“At the end of the day, this is the team that I’ve been successful with for many, many years and I want the team to continue to have success.
“That’s just how I’m wired, that’s how I am. Maybe other people will do a different thing.”
Hamilton vows to understand recent woes
Hamilton’s glittering partnership with Mercedes appears poised to conclude on a whimper amid the woes that he has experienced with his W15 across recent rounds.
The seven-time F1 champion labelled his weekend in Brazil last time out as “terrible” as he struggled to 10th place in wet conditions that he’s been renowned to relish.
“I feel good, obviously,” Hamilton said post-race at Interlagos. “I mean, it’s devastating to have these bad races in the second half of the season.
“But all I can say is we’re trying, we’re coming into the weekend. But it’s definitely not acceptable, it’s definitely not good enough.
“We have to take accountability, I have to take accountability. But I am doing the best with what I’ve got. The kit, for some reason, the car has been the worst this weekend.
“I don’t know what it is, we’re going to have to find out what it is. One of the cars is working a lot better, so there’s obviously potential there.”
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