Fernando Alonso has expressed belief that Lewis Hamilton can recover from his difficult start to the 2024 Formula 1 season with Ferrari. Despite Hamilton’s current challenges, Alonso remains optimistic about the seven-time world champion’s ability to improve his performance as the season progresses.
Hamilton’s first nine races with Ferrari have been tough, often seeing him lag behind his teammate Charles Leclerc. Beyond the performance gap, tensions have arisen between Hamilton and his race engineer Riccardo Adami, adding to the team’s struggles. Hamilton’s only significant highlight this year was winning a sprint race after securing pole position in Shanghai, but consistent strong finishes have been scarce.
Ferrari as a whole has struggled with its SF-25 car, which has yet to be a genuine contender for race victories. While Leclerc has managed to finish on the podium three times in the opening rounds, the team has not shown the pace to challenge McLaren for wins. This underperformance has sparked speculation about the future of team principal Frederic Vasseur, although both Hamilton and Leclerc have firmly denied any imminent changes in management.
Alonso Reflects on Hamilton’s Ferrari Challenges
Having raced for Ferrari from 2010 to 2014, Fernando Alonso offered insights into Hamilton’s difficulties. He acknowledged that Hamilton’s current situation is confusing but pointed to his proven talent on certain tracks.
“What’s wrong with him? I have no idea,”
Alonso said in an interview with Marca.
“Lewis is a great driver, on circuits like Canada he is able to exploit all his strengths.”
Alonso remained hopeful about Hamilton’s future with the team, noting that the current struggles may be temporary.
“After 24 races we’ll do the maths, he’s suffering now but he can turn the situation around very quickly.”
Comparing Hamilton’s Year at Ferrari to His Final Season at Mercedes
Alonso also noted parallels between Hamilton’s 2024 season with Ferrari and his last year at Mercedes. In 2023, Hamilton managed just two wins and was frequently outperformed by teammate George Russell. Alonso believes the underlying issues remain similar.
He pointed out that the Mercedes car was reportedly difficult to handle, favoring Russell’s driving style, and suggested that Ferrari might be facing a comparable situation this year.
“I don’t think the situation has changed much with last year, with Russell, then the Mercedes was apparently complicated to drive and Russell was more comfortable, this year seems the same situation.”
“But it’s difficult to make an opinion without having all the information.”
Though the season has started on an uneasy note for Hamilton, Alonso’s comments highlight the potential for recovery and adaptation as the championship continues. How Hamilton and Ferrari respond in the coming races will be crucial for the team’s prospects and for Hamilton’s first year with the marque.