Lewis Hamilton hopes Mercedes can build on their strong form in the second half of the season, although the seven-time world champion played down the possibility of a championship challenge being on the table.
After a slow start to the season, the Silver Arrows saw a huge turnaround in their performances as the 2024 season progressed. The Silver Arrows have won more than any other team since the 8th race in Monaco, as Hamilton has two wins while George Russell has one.
Hamilton himself has also racked up some interesting stats, equaling Max Verstappen as the driver with the most victories since Monte Carlo (both won twice), which included an emotional and long-awaited return to the top step at Silverstone.
The Briton also shares the most podiums in the last seven races with McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
Hamilton’s last top-three finish came at the final race before the summer break in Belgium, where he initially crossed the finish line in second place, only to be promoted to winner after Russell was disqualified when his car was found to be out of line. .
Speaking after the race, Hamilton – currently 6th in the drivers’ standings with 150 points – was asked if his impressive drive in the last few races had left him feeling he could potentially challenge for the title.
“Not. That would be high hopes,” replied Hamilton. “But if we can continue with the kind of performances we’ve had in the last few races, which have been fantastic… I think if we can start our weekends a bit better, hopefully we can continue.”
“Obviously McLaren were very strong [in Belgium], we were just a bit ahead early [in the race], but yeah, we just have to keep pushing.”
The final 10 races of 2024 will mark Hamilton’s final season as a Mercedes driver, after which he moves to Ferrari next season. For Russell, the team’s recent signs of promise have made him optimistic about their chances of winning the title in 2025.
When asked if the second half of the campaign will be about laying the groundwork to prepare for next year’s championship, Russell replied: “Yes, absolutely. Absolutely.”
“For all of us, it has been a difficult few years to bring the car to a place where we can constantly fight for victories. But I’m motivated, so excited for the second half of the season, which ultimately continues towards 2025.”
“And when you look at the competition now, there’s no reason why we can’t fight. If the season had started in Montreal, the championship standings would have looked very, very different, so that will be great.”
“There is so much motivation from all the other teams to get back to the forefront, from McLaren, from Ferrari, from ourselves. So it certainly won’t be easy and we hope to see a good fight on our hands next year.”
