Why Hamilton's 2022 struggles shouldn't define his career

OPINION: Lewis Hamilton has enjoyed a long reign at the top of Formula 1, but this year's Mercedes troubles are not new to him, having suffered a similar predicament at the start of a new rules cycle in 2009. There are key differences to consider this time, but his difficult start shouldn't be blown out of proportion

Kevin Turner May 3, 2022, 4:23 PM

Upd: May 3, 2022, 5:12 PM

“You do everything you can to prepare for the season better than you did the previous year when you were leading the points table, and you had the package to challenge for the world championship. Then you arrive and there’s nothing you can do. You can’t get out and push the car any faster.”

Those words are from Lewis Hamilton, but they aren’t about the Mercedes W13 and the 2022 Formula 1 rules reset. They are from 2009, when McLaren’s MP4-24 initially missed the mark under new aero regulations.

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Author Kevin Turner

Kevin Turner is Autosport’s Chief Editor. While studying History at the University of York, Kevin began covering UK club events as a freelance reporter for Autosport and Motorsport News. He joined the Autosport staff as Editorial Assistant on the magazine in 2006, winning what is now known as the Motorsport UK Young Journalist of the Year Award. He became National Editor in 2008 and over the next few seasons covered a range of international events, including the Le Mans 24 Hours, as well as the British Touring Car Championship and British GT. Kevin became Features Editor before switching to edit Motorsport News in 2014.

He returned to Autosport in 2016 to become editor of the magazine, a dream job that is still part of his role.

He became Chief Editor in 2020, helping to plan content for autosport.com and Autosport’s podcast as well as seeing the magazine through the coronavirus pandemic. Kevin also led work on the special publication celebrating 70 years of Autosport and has been a judge on the Aston Martin Autosport BRDC Young Driver Award, formerly known as the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award, since 2008. He lives in Warboys with his wife and two children.