“When I get that car, we’re going to be fighting this guy and we’ll have some answers for them.”
\nThose are not the words of a man content with resting on his laurels.
\nThat is not the attitude of a legend preparing to ride off into the sunset.
\nIf Lewis Hamilton’s impassioned words to BBC Live’s Jennie Gow in the aftermath of an enthralling United States Grand Prix seem like a warning shot to the dominant Max Verstappen and Red Bull, it’s because they were.
\nAfter 16 years in the fastest lane motorsport has to offer, it would be perfectly reasonable for Hamilton’s relentless pursuit of greatness to lose some steam.
\nAnd perhaps early this season, with a staggering seven World Championships behind him, that flame did wither in the gusts of Formula 1’s new era.
\nGeorge Russell’s long-anticipated arrival at Mercedes was significant. And with the 24-year-old noticeably out-performing the veteran over the first eight races of the year, a passing of the baton from one Brit to another appeared imminent.
\nAccording to the narrative, Hamilton was the iconic figure of a storied past, a driver who defined an era in Formula 1, while Russell was the future and destined to run point as Mercedes prepared to take the fight to Red Bull in the coming years.
\n View this post on Instagram A post shared by Yas Marina Circuit (@ymcofficial)
\nAt first, the notion of Hamilton being nudged aside by his fresh-faced team-mate seemed preposterous, but even the man himself began to harbour doubts.
\nHe said: “It’s only natural for human beings to have questions and doubts every now and then. In the beginning of the season, I was up and down, I was all over the place.
\n“When you’re looking at performance you’re like; is it just the car or is it you as well? You have to question everything.”
\nIt’s not a stretch to speculate that Hamilton’s career may have hung in the balance at one point.
\nAmidst the self-doubt, the team’s shortcomings and the plaudits directed at the driver in the neighbouring garage, the temptation to walk away would’ve been entertained.
\nBut it didn’t take long for Hamilton’s insatiable drive for success to stir. For all his natural talent, his mentality and ability to coax the best out of himself has always set him apart.
\nSo in vintage Hamilton-manner, he put his head down, refocused and emerged from the fog of uncertainty.
\nSince the Canadian Grand Prix, Hamilton has featured in the top five nine times in 11 races, standing on the podium on six occasions. Tellingly, Russell has finished above him only three times during this period.
\nThe superb start the former Williams driver enjoyed this season was received as a sign of things to come. A changing of the guard, so to speak.
\nIn reality, Russell’s exceptional talent and youthful exuberance served to refuel Hamilton’s ambition.
\nFor the preceding five years, Valtteri Bottas was a fine second driver for Mercedes but never came within touching distance of his decorated team-mate who had to rely on his own pursuit of perfection to keep his edge.
\nRussell on the other hand has posed a far more significant threat and has perhaps been key to forcing Hamilton into resurgence.
\nHis performance at the US GP seemed to be the culmination of his recovery this season. A first win in 2022 continues to evade him, but with an accomplished drive to P2, the belief is most certainly restored.
\n“What I take from this is, I still got it,” Hamilton said. “I still got the speed.
\n“I know that and the team knows that when they build me the car, I will take it there.”
\nNot the win he desperately wanted but Lewis Hamilton was energised by his and @MercedesAMGF1's performance in Austin ?#USGP #F1 pic.twitter.com\/PnEDtc0IiK— Formula 1 (@F1) October 24, 2022
\nWith the battle between Verstappen and Charles Leclerc taking centre stage at the start of the season before the reigning champion pulled well clear of his challengers, Hamilton began to drift into the background.
\nNow, with Mercedes edging closer to the top once more, the 37-year-old has his eyes set on a new challenge, perhaps his greatest yet.
\nRed Bull and Verstappen’s unparalleled supremacy this year points to the start of a new dynasty, one to rival the eight-year hegemony Mercedes forged with Hamilton at the helm.
\nHe now seeks to arrest that storyline in its infancy by reviving his rivalry with the Dutchman which, last year, produced arguably the greatest title-fight the sport has ever seen.
\nAnother battle for the Drivers’ Championship appears on the horizon. Of course, Leclerc and Ferrari will have their say as well.
\nBut it would be bold to bet against a man determined to secure his eighth title, surpassing the legendary Michael Schumacher in the process.
\nHamilton will eventually leave the world of Formula 1 behind, but he won’t go quietly into the night. The final chapter of his remarkable legacy remains unwritten.
\n‘Hammer-time’ isn’t up, just yet.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cWhen I get that car, we\u2019re going to be fighting this guy and we\u2019ll have some answers for them.\u201d
\nThose are not the words of a man content with resting on his laurels.
\nThat is not the attitude of a legend preparing to ride off into the sunset.
\nIf Lewis Hamilton\u2019s impassioned words to BBC Live\u2019s Jennie Gow in the aftermath of an enthralling United States Grand Prix seem like a warning shot to the dominant Max Verstappen and Red Bull, it\u2019s because they were.
\nAfter 16 years in the fastest lane motorsport has to offer, it would be perfectly reasonable for Hamilton\u2019s relentless pursuit of greatness to lose some steam.
\nAnd perhaps early this season, with a staggering seven World Championships behind him, that flame did wither in the gusts of Formula 1\u2019s new era.
\nGeorge Russell\u2019s long-anticipated arrival at Mercedes was significant. And with the 24-year-old noticeably out-performing the veteran over the first eight races of the year, a passing of the baton from one Brit to another appeared imminent.
\nAccording to the narrative, Hamilton was the iconic figure of a storied past, a driver who defined an era in Formula 1, while Russell was the future and destined to run point as Mercedes prepared to take the fight to Red Bull in the coming years.
\n View this post on Instagram A post shared by Yas Marina Circuit (@ymcofficial)
\nAt first, the notion of Hamilton being nudged aside by his fresh-faced team-mate seemed preposterous, but even the man himself began to harbour doubts.
\nHe said: \u201cIt\u2019s only natural for human beings to have questions and doubts every now and then. In the beginning of the season, I was up and down, I was all over the place.
\n\u201cWhen you\u2019re looking at performance you\u2019re like; is it just the car or is it you as well? You have to question everything.\u201d
\nIt\u2019s not a stretch to speculate that Hamilton\u2019s career may have hung in the balance at one point.
\nAmidst the self-doubt, the team\u2019s shortcomings and the plaudits directed at the driver in the neighbouring garage, the temptation to walk away would\u2019ve been entertained.
\nBut it didn\u2019t take long for Hamilton\u2019s insatiable drive for success to stir. For all his natural talent, his mentality and ability to coax the best out of himself has always set him apart.
\nSo in vintage Hamilton-manner, he put his head down, refocused and emerged from the fog of uncertainty.
\nSince the Canadian Grand Prix, Hamilton has featured in the top five nine times in 11 races, standing on the podium on six occasions. Tellingly, Russell has finished above him only three times during this period.
\nThe superb start the former Williams driver enjoyed this season was received as a sign of things to come. A changing of the guard, so to speak.
\nIn reality, Russell\u2019s exceptional talent and youthful exuberance served to refuel Hamilton\u2019s ambition.
\nFor the preceding five years, Valtteri Bottas was a fine second driver for Mercedes but never came within touching distance of his decorated team-mate who had to rely on his own pursuit of perfection to keep his edge.
\nRussell on the other hand has posed a far more significant threat and has perhaps been key to forcing Hamilton into resurgence.
\nHis performance at the US GP seemed to be the culmination of his recovery this season. A first win in 2022 continues to evade him, but with an accomplished drive to P2, the belief is most certainly restored.
\n\u201cWhat I take from this is, I still got it,\u201d Hamilton said. \u201cI still got the speed.
\n\u201cI know that and the team knows that when they build me the car, I will take it there.\u201d
\nNot the win he desperately wanted but Lewis Hamilton was energised by his and @MercedesAMGF1's performance in Austin ?#USGP #F1 pic.twitter.com\/PnEDtc0IiK\u2014 Formula 1 (@F1) October 24, 2022
\nWith the battle between Verstappen and Charles Leclerc taking centre stage at the start of the season before the reigning champion pulled well clear of his challengers, Hamilton began to drift into the background.
\nNow, with Mercedes edging closer to the top once more, the 37-year-old has his eyes set on a new challenge, perhaps his greatest yet.
\nRed Bull and Verstappen\u2019s unparalleled supremacy this year points to the start of a new dynasty, one to rival the eight-year hegemony Mercedes forged with Hamilton at the helm.
\nHe now seeks to arrest that storyline in its infancy by reviving his rivalry with the Dutchman which, last year, produced arguably the greatest title-fight the sport has ever seen.
\nAnother battle for the Drivers\u2019 Championship appears on the horizon. Of course, Leclerc and Ferrari will have their say as well.
\nBut it would be bold to bet against a man determined to secure his eighth title, surpassing the legendary Michael Schumacher in the process.
\nHamilton will eventually leave the world of Formula 1 behind, but he won\u2019t go quietly into the night. The final chapter of his remarkable legacy remains unwritten.
\n\u2018Hammer-time\u2019 isn\u2019t up, just yet.<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/246805"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=246805"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/246805\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":246807,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/246805\/revisions\/246807"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=246805"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=246805"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=246805"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}