Hamilton made #2 Driver at Mercedes…

By Joe Murphy

The dynamic at Mercedes heading into the 2024 season must have changed. It simply must have done. With Lewis Hamilton departing for Ferrari in around ten months time, he is no longer considered the centrepoint of the team. How can he be?

Mercedes would be better off putting all their efforts into George Russell as he is the future of the team. He isn’t going anywhere. 2024 is one last year for the younger Brit to learn everything he can from his more experienced countryman. And sources from the team have confirmed the mentality of the respective garages, has shifted.

So, what will this year look like for Lewis. Well there’s no doubting both driver and team will push to the max (pun very much intended) in order to get as close to Red Bull as possible, even if that means denying the team set to be Hamilton’s next employer. McLaren, Aston Martin and even Williams could be strong across the season, so Mercedes will have to be on form and singing from the same hymn sheet in order to maximise their potential.

If Lewis is a title challenger, the team will push him. Of that there is little doubt. However, this year, if a decision to sacrafice Lewis for George comes up, then you can expect that decision to be made with relative ease. Something not always the case throughout the seven time World Champions stint with the team.

Hamilton will also be the second most important driver because of next year’s car. It’s difficult to predict a scenario where a future rival competitor has a say in a car he will be racing against. However, George, who will be front a centre of this project, will have much more input. Surely Hamilton has to be kept in the dark on all such areas, aside from feedback on the current car.

What is also unclear at the time of writing is exactly who will and who won’t remain with the Silver Arrows beyond December, in terms of Hamilton’s side of the garage specifically. Peter Bonnington, arguably the most notable name on that side of Mercedes, well his 2025 remains extremely unclear. Although, reports surfaced last week claiming that Mercedes can prevent Lewis’ long time colleague turned friend from joining him at the Italian constructor. However, this remains unclear and nothing is yet to be confirmed by Mercedes or indeed, Ferrari.