German racing driver Nico Hulkenberg has come to Lewis Hamilton’s defense following criticisms suggesting the seven-time Formula 1 world champion is “just not fast anymore” after a challenging phase in his Mercedes career.
During the sprint qualifying session at the 2024 Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton finished 0.399 seconds behind his then-team-mate George Russell. Reflecting on the outcome, the British driver described it as a familiar pattern, characterizing the session as another underwhelming qualifying performance. He remarked that he had felt relatively satisfied with the car, noting no significant issues, but admitted to a consistent lack of pace throughout recent weekends.
When pressed further on his struggles, the new Ferrari driver reportedly acknowledged his doubts about his performance, conceding that he might no longer possess the speed that once defined his illustrious motorsport career.
Lewis Hamilton’s challenges with the ground-effect cars, particularly during qualifying sessions where a single lap can define performance, have been widely analyzed. This era of Formula 1 machinery has proven to be a poor match for his signature driving style, which heavily relies on assertive turn-ins and precise braking techniques.
Nico Hulkenberg, a veteran driver who has competed alongside Hamilton in 227 races, offered his support for the seven-time Formula One world champion, attributing the recent struggles to a temporary dip in form rather than a reflection of diminished skill: “It is just about timing, and I think he had a weak moment to be honest,” Nico Hulkenberg pointed out in a recent interview – He was disappointed after a poor qualifying, and obviously I don’t know the details [from Mercedes], but he was up against George who is a very fast and complete driver already. He’s put in some really strong performances and has good momentum, so as a driver, even when you are as experienced as Lewis, it can get to you and annoy you as well.” – he added.
“We all want to challenge and beat our team-mates, but you saw in Las Vegas how good Lewis is, he came from P10 and you should never discount him. He’s still going great.” – concluded the German racing driver, who is set to compete in Formula One for Sauber starting with the next season.
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