Lewis Hamilton compares Mercedes struggles to issues with 'worst car I’ve had' in 2009

Lewis Hamilton has compared his struggles at the start of the 2022 season to what he went through in 2009. The seven-time champion finds himself well off the pace set by Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, with Hamilton on 28 points — 58 behind the Monegasque. Ad/> Hamilton’s struggles are down to his Mercedes car being well behind the likes of Ferrari and Red Bull in terms of pace — and it mirrors what he went through at McLaren in 2009.

Miami Grand Prix'Quite a lonely journey' — Hamilton speaks about improving diversity in Formula One03/05/2022 AT 12:18 Like the current campaign, Hamilton went into the 2009 season on the back of an excellent previous season. While last term he was denied the title in controversial circumstances, with Max Verstappen pipping him to the drivers’ championship on the last lap of the final race in Abu Dhabi, in 2009 Hamilton went into the season as champion. In 2009, McLaren struggled to come to terms with new regulations — and it is a similar scenario for Mercedes in 2022.

«There are people that watch and say I’ve never had a bad car, and I can assure you that I have,” Hamilton told the Race. „2009’s car was very, very far off — the worst car that I’ve had. This car currently is not far off that experience.“ Horner shines light on evolving Verstappen and Leclerc rivalry Hamilton speaks out about improving diversity in F1 McLaren worked through their issues and finished the 2009 season extremely strongly — with Hamilton winning two of the final eight races.