Hamilton Faces Challenges with Mercedes W15 as Future with Ferrari Approaches

Lewis Hamilton has been facing difficulties in mastering the Mercedes W15 car. With his contract with Mercedes ending this year, the British driver is determined to finish the season on a high note. However, the aspirations of the seven-time world champion seem unlikely to materialize, as Mercedes is facing unprecedented challenges. It is suggested that Hamilton may have mentally moved on from the team already. Hamilton officially announced his move to Ferrari in 2025 in early February, but still wanted to bring his current team back to the top this year. Despite his long association with Mercedes, Ralf Schumacher believes the seven-time world champion has lost interest. The Brackley-based team is currently ranked fourth in the 2024 Constructors’ Championship. Mercedes’ worst fears have come true with the W15 car, which is plagued with issues. The team had a double DNF (Did Not Finish) during the Australian GP, a highly unusual occurrence for them. However, the team analyzed the situation and had a slightly more successful weekend in Japan. Lewis Hamilton’s car suffered damage to its front right plate during the Japanese GP. After rejoining the race, he made slight contact with [name]. Ferrari did not face any issues with their car, but the damage altered the course of Hamilton’s race. Discussing the details of the damage to the W15, trackside engineering director [name] said the following. While the damage did not directly affect Hamilton’s car speed, it did impact its balance. This is one of the reasons why the team decided to let him pass. As a result, Hamilton dropped to ninth place during the Japanese GP. Taking everything into consideration, the 39-year-old driver will be aiming for a much better weekend at the next event in Shanghai.