Hamilton battled car instability and tyre woes in his final season before Ferrari’s transition

Lewis Hamilton’s final season with Mercedes has ended in frustration, exposing a troubled chapter before his highly anticipated move to Ferrari in 2025. The seven-time world champion faced a series of challenges with the Mercedes W15 car, including instability, unpredictable handling, and overheating rear tyres. Despite flashes of brilliance, these hurdles underscored a tumultuous farewell to the team that once delivered him unparalleled success.

Mercedes, reflecting on the season, admitted that the W15 failed to match Hamilton’s driving style. Andrew Shovlin, head of trackside engineering, highlighted issues with keeping the car in a “balance window,” which directly affected Hamilton’s qualifying performance. “The car hasn’t been quick enough,” Shovlin explained. “It’s been hard to get the balance right, and when we did, maintaining it was another battle.”

The data told a clear story. While Hamilton’s race pace remained strong, his qualifying performance lagged, often leaving him behind teammate George Russell on the starting grid. This disadvantage proved costly in a season where every fraction of a second mattered. The W15’s design, which amplified oversteer during corner exits, caused Hamilton to overheat the rear tyres, limiting his ability to extract full potential.

The Las Vegas Grand Prix served as a rare moment of triumph. Hamilton, starting tenth, carved through the field to finish second, demonstrating his racecraft and resilience. Shovlin revealed this performance stemmed from a specific car setup tailored to Hamilton’s preferences. “In Vegas, the car worked the way he wanted, and we saw the old Lewis again,” Shovlin said.

However, these moments were few and far between. Hamilton secured victories at Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps, but they were overshadowed by a season plagued with inconsistency. Shovlin elaborated on the root of the problem, citing challenges in managing tyre temperatures and balancing the car’s sensitivity under braking and acceleration. “It’s all about keeping heat out of the rear tyres,” Shovlin noted. “If they overheat during cornering, you’re left fighting a losing battle.”

Hamilton himself acknowledged his difficulties in adapting to the car, though he remained pragmatic. “I’ve had to adjust my driving, but it’s clear we didn’t nail the setup this year,” he admitted. Shovlin echoed this, commending Hamilton’s adaptability but emphasising the team’s responsibility to deliver a better package. “Lewis knows how to adapt, but we didn’t provide him with a car that allowed him to truly push to the limit.”

The W15’s struggles underscored a broader issue within Mercedes’ recent campaigns. While the team made progress compared to the disappointing W14, it fell short of the dominance seen in previous years. Shovlin admitted the season was a learning curve, particularly in understanding how to align the car’s characteristics with both drivers’ styles.

As Hamilton bids farewell to Mercedes, his legacy with the team remains intact, but the W15 will undoubtedly be remembered as a low point. The Briton’s move to Ferrari marks a new chapter, one that promises fresh challenges but also a chance for redemption.

For Mercedes, the focus now shifts to 2025, where the lessons from this season will shape their efforts to reclaim the top spot. But for Hamilton, the future lies in red – a fitting colour for a driver whose passion and tenacity continue to burn brightly.