Lewis Hamilton has been a relentless winning machine since switching from McLaren to Mercedes in 2013. With this, he has won six of the last seven drivers’ championships since the turbo-hybrid era emerged in 2014. Mercedes Shovlin’s James Vowles and Andrew reveal the change Hamilton went through when joining the team.
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What the Briton has achieved with Mercedes is truly unprecedented. The combination of the two worked wonders and resulted in a one-handed dominance of the German team like it has never been seen before. What Hamilton has done over the years is superb as he has made tiny changes to the way he handles the car.
Lewis Hamilton has completely changed his mindset since joining Mercedes
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On the Beyond The Grid podcast, chief strategist James Vowles felt that Hamilton didn’t take care of himself until he joined the team in 2013.
“He is definitely. I speak on my behalf, I cannot speak on behalf of others. But he’s a very different character from the character who joined us. When he came to us he was a mercenary, he was here to win races.
“That desire to win has not gone away, but it has recognized that you are doing it with the team and as part of the team and thereby becoming the greatest athlete there is. An individual cannot rely on himself. “
2018 FORMULA 1 SINGAPORE AIRLINES SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX (September 13, 2018) – Zone 1 – Paddock Club – Driver Autographs for Mercedes’ Hamilton Hamilton Singapore Grand Prix via Reuters Plus
Andrew Shovlin, technical director at the trackside, spoke about Hamilton’s desire to win, which initially worked to the detriment of the car.
“Early on, he had a relentless desire to win every race, to manifest itself in his driving, and he pushed and pushed and never stopped. I think he’ll be a much more calculating driver now. From the first lap of the first race, he thinks a lot more about championships and caring for the car and the tires. “
Shovlin also spoke about the 36-year-old’s calculating character.
“He hasn’t gotten any better at losing races because it’s just in his nature. Certainly his approach to the weekend and his thinking in the car. And everything is really calculated, clean and clinical.
“To the point where someone asks you if Lewis made mistakes, you think back and go back through the seasons trying to remember examples. His goal is perfection and that is a difficult goal to choose. That’s what he’s trying to achieve. “
Is the Brit about to leave F1 in 2022?
What Lewis Hamilton did very smartly is to prepare very well for a life beyond F1. So if he suddenly decides to quit the sport, he won’t be short of money. He has diversified into different fields while delving into music and voice-over in films.
Hamilton has built a sizable business empire in which he has provided both financial and vocal support for causes close to his heart. The Brit has also invested in fashion and restaurants and has founded his own team in the Extreme E-Motorsport series.
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Formula 1 F1 – Bahrain Grand Prix – Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain – March 25, 2021, Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton arrives on the track ahead of the REUTERS / Hamad I Mohammed Grand Prix
So he could very well leave the sport in 2022 if he achieves his goal of winning the eighth championship in 2021. But if he can’t win in 2021, will he change his mind?
People can expect to hear his answer on this matter around mid-season during the summer break. That is going to be something that breaks the internet.
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