When Lewis Hamilton first drove the Mercedes W14, he knew it was going to be a challenging year. As a 7-time World Champion, he is accustomed to success, but even he could not have predicted the difficulties that lay ahead. His honesty and vulnerability are inspiring to those who look up to him as a role model. It’s a reminder that even the best athletes struggle, but they always come back stronger.
Lewis Hamilton has candidly discussed his struggles with self-doubt during his difficult 2022 season with Mercedes. Although he finished third in the overall standings and scored six podiums, he has not won a race since 2021, and the mental battle has been his greatest challenge. His resilience and determination are admirable, and he is determined to return to the top of his game.
2022 marked the first time in two years that Hamilton had taken pole position, after he dominated qualifying at the Hungarian Grand Prix. It was a glimmer of hope in an otherwise challenging season, and a reminder of his undeniable talent behind the wheel. But the race result was less than ideal, as he dropped down the order and finished in tenth place.
In a frank interview with BBC Sport, Hamilton reflected on the intense rivalry with Max Verstappen, and how it affected his own confidence. He admitted to wondering if his ability had diminished, or if the car was not up to the task. These self-doubts are normal for any athlete, but for Hamilton, they were particularly challenging to overcome. The quest for self-belief is just as important as the physical battles on the track.
“The feeling when it all comes together – the car, the driver, that magic spark – it’s indescribable,” Hamilton told BBC Sport. “I’ve been chasing that feeling all year. There have been moments when I’ve felt close to it, but not quite there. And that’s been the hardest part.”
“I’m only human. We all have our doubts and fears. Anyone who says they don’t is lying. We all go through difficult times. But the important thing is how you deal with those feelings and come out the other side stronger.”
When Lewis Hamilton first drove the new Mercedes car, the W14, at the pre-season test at Silverstone, he knew it was going to be a difficult season. The car had a unique design, which the engineers had chosen to stick with despite Hamilton’s misgivings. However, it soon became clear that this had been a mistake, as the car struggled to keep up with the competition. This set Mercedes back several races as they tried to catch up.
As Lewis Hamilton remembered, “It felt exactly the same as the previous year’s car. It definitely wasn’t a great feeling. I had high hopes for the new car, but when we did the initial assessment of its performance, I was a little apprehensive. We had been so confident about the design the previous year, but it turned out to be a big mistake. When the car started having all these problems, I just knew it was going to be a long year.”
