Why Hamilton has lost interest in Mercedes' project becomes more obvious

Mercedes launched their 2024 Formula 1 car in a tidy presentation with the key members: Toto Wolff, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. It was a textbook car launch for the F1 purists. No razzmatazz or artificial hype. Brilliantly done. But it is becoming increasingly obvious why Hamilton lost interest in the Mercedes project and will jump to Ferrari for the 2025 F1 season.

Rinse and repeat

Toto Wolff repeated his story about the World Championship standings chart from the second half of the 2023 F1 season. "We got it wrong with the new regulations. But when we look back in 10 years or longer, and you're going to read...we finished first eight times in a row, and then third and second in the constructor. It will look like it was a respectable result and wasn't so bad," Wolff said during the car launch. 

That is, of course, true. It's a nice story, and it's a realistic goal. Highly motivating to the engineers working at the factory, the sponsors and maybe even George Russell. But Hamilton, who turned 39 last month, doesn't have time to wait and "look back in 10 years". He wants to change the course of history right now. Besides, it's not the first time Hamilton has heard that message over the last two years.

Hopefully

The use of the word " hopefully " shows a lack of confidence. It implies they are relying on a little bit of luck or feeling *optimistic* that something good *may* happen. There is no certainty involved. 

"We have a superb driver combination, hopefully a fast car, the best people in the factory, that are giving it all in order to succeed. I think there are some very good ingredients to be back in the front again," Wolff said. This is not the inspiring words that Hamilton will want to hear. 

Small mention of Red Bull, but not a priority?

Wolff then discusses Mercedes' goals and aims for the 2024 Formula 1 season. The likes of Aston Martin have come out and said Red Bull are beatable, and those words put a smile on Fernando Alonso's face when GPblog passed them on to the Spaniard. Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz said during a press event attended by GPblog: "I think we've done everything we can to close that gap to Red Bull and even though Red Bull is going to come out super strong, I think Ferrari is capable of closing that gap and putting ourselves in a position of fighting for more wins."

Mercedes' rivals have a clear focus on closing that gap to Red Bull. They are looking forwards. Wolff? "So our aim is to consolidate our positions towards Ferrari and McLaren, sometimes Aston Martin, and be at the front part of that group, at the same time as trying to race at the very front." 

Only at the very end do Red Bull, and therefore first place in the World Championship, get a mention. Wolff is seemingly looking over his shoulders at those coming up behind. Hamilton is motivated to get his eighth World Championship trophy, and Wolff has done little to convince the Brit it will come at Mercedes. Over time, it's becoming increasingly obvious why Hamilton decided to make the change.

This is Wolff being realistic. And fair play. There's a strong argument to suggest that is the right way to tackle Mercedes' current situation rather than pumping in artificial hype and expectation. It's arguably better to state this than something like "we will beat Red Bull" and then be three-tenths down per lap in Bahrain. After all, nobody knows better than Wolff himself about healthy dominant leads. But it's not the answer that Hamilton needs.