Lewis Hamilton spoke about his dispute with Mercedes in the new season of the Drive To Survive series, which begins on Friday.
Lewis Hamilton was frustrated at the start of the 2023 season, and already spoke out on the first weekend of racing about something not being right with their car concept. He later revealed that even at the end of last season, he had doubts about the direction the team had chosen.
Netflix is available starting February 23 Driving to survive The sixth season of his series, which deals with the events of the 2023 season. It also shows, among other things, how dissatisfied Hamilton was with his team during the aforementioned period.
“I remember complaining to the team. I said to myself: 'Look, we have to make these changes, otherwise this will happen, and we'll end up here.' Please, please, do something about it.” – The seven-time world champion quoted himself in the series
“I remember them saying, 'We know what we're doing, you're wrong.' And that was an interesting moment. I was like, 'Okay, then I'll step back, I don't want to step on anyone else's toes.' And then the season started and we talked again and they said, 'Oh,' Maybe you're right.”
The series was filmed before Hamilton decided to sign with Ferrari from 2025. In the film, we also get a taste of the discussions regarding the future with Toto Wolff (to the extent that it can be considered real in front of the cameras…). In August, he extended his contract with the Stars by two years, which this year turned out to be just a 1+1 contract with an option to opt out.
“You can stay here another 20 years… I can't!”
All the tension and drama of Formula 1, like you've never seen it before. Drive to Survive Season 6 is streaming now, only on @Netflix 🎬#F1 pic.twitter.com/vlQ1sTbXJN
– Formula 1 (@F1) February 23, 2024
In the excerpt published by Formula 1, Wolff talks about the inevitable change of concept, and then he and Hamilton discuss that, unlike the team boss, the seven-time world champion no longer has time to waste in Formula 1. Wolff points out: “I don't want to wait until 2026 for the new motorcycle regulations.”
Hamilton notes with a laugh:
“So do I. You can stay here for another twenty or thirty years, I can't. This is a precious year for me.”
In response, Wolf points out: “Lewis, you are more than just a competitor. Much more than a seven-time world champion. You are one of the people who push this team forward.”
Hamilton said at the end of last year that Mercedes subsequently listened to its drivers more, and also tried to take a more active role in the development work and the 2024 project. At the same time, according to speculation, the tension with the team may have had something to do with the fact that he changed his mind this year and finally chose Ferrari instead of Mercedes.
