Mastering the Setup: How Mercedes Fueled Lewis Hamilton’s F1 2024 Resurgence

Mercedes identifies primary factor behind Lewis Hamilton’s F1 2024 comeback

“That definitely played a role, and it’s likely accurate to say that Lewis had more trouble with setup compared to George in the initial races.”

Andrew Shovlin, who is the trackside engineering director for Mercedes, has identified the team's skill in getting the car's setup right from the first practice session (FP1) as a crucial factor behind Lewis Hamilton's better performance in the 2024 Formula 1 season.

Despite Mercedes initially ranking as the fourth-best team, Hamilton was consistently outshone by his teammate George Russell.

Over the past eight races, Hamilton has accumulated 123 points. The only drivers to have scored more during this period are Max Verstappen with 141 points and Oscar Piastri with 126 points.

In this period, Hamilton secured two additional victories, ending his winless streak that had lasted since the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Shovlin thinks that Mercedes' advancements in configuring the car have played a key role in Hamilton's recent performance improvement.

"Initially, Lewis might have struggled more with the car," commented Shovlin at the Belgian Grand Prix, which Crash.net attended. "We've made progress with the car by setting it up correctly from the first practice session."

"That provides a solid base to enhance performance and make adjustments, which significantly benefits your weekend. At the beginning of the year, we made minor tweaks, but they unexpectedly disrupted the car's balance, causing us considerable difficulties."

"That definitely provided some assistance, and it would be reasonable to state that during the initial races, Lewis had a harder time with the setup compared to George."

Pirelli's tires play a crucial role in F1 performance, and achieving the optimal temperature range is key to improving lap times.

“There seems to be a specific driving technique that works well with these tyres,” he mentioned. “It appears that both drivers now have similar setups, so when the car is performing optimally, it benefits both drivers equally.”

“During breaks, they analyze each other’s work to identify areas for improvement.

Throughout the year, the two have collaborated from the beginning. Neither was satisfied with their finishing positions, so they supported each other by experimenting with different setups and driving techniques.

"In general, the team advances together, which is the essence of having two drivers."

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