It’s been a depressing begin for Lewis Hamilton in his remaining season with Mercedes.
With simply eight factors on the board, it’s statistically the worst begin to a season in his illustrious F1 profession.
It continues a lacklustre run of kind which stretches again to Mexico final yr.
No matter his personal outcomes, Mercedes merely don’t have a fantastic automotive, with George Russell’s finest end being fifth in Bahrain.
On the entire, it makes his determination to hitch Ferrari to be the proper one with the Scuderia returning to successful methods final outing in Australia.
How unhealthy has 2024 been?
With simply eight factors, 2024 is clearly Hamilton’s worst begin to a marketing campaign.
2009 comes closest – when you convert the factors system from again then (10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1) to the fashionable day one.
After his title successful yr, Hamilton began 2009 with simply 14 factors within the opening three rounds.
Whereas he was disqualified from Australia, P7 in Malaysia and P6 in Bahrain have been respective leads to an underperforming McLaren.
Unsurprisingly, his subsequent worst is 2022, scoring 28 factors after three rounds.
Hamilton’s finest to worst F1 seasons
Factors taken from after three races. 2007-2009 have been transformed to the fashionable day factors system.
SEASON
POINTS
2021
69
2015
68
2019
68
2020
63
2017
61
2007
51
2014
50
2011
47
2012
45
2018
45
2013
40
2016
39
2023
38
2008
35
2010
31
2022
28
2009
14
2024
8
Can Hamilton flip it round?
Judging by Mercedes’ kind, it seems to be unlikely Hamilton might be returning to the rostrum any time quickly.
Crimson Bull and Ferrari are a transparent step forward, whereas McLaren and Aston Martin have proven extra promise.
Mercedes will little doubt add extra growth to the W15, giving Hamilton a greater alternative to go away the workforce on a excessive.
Plus, Hamilton’s private kind tends to enhance because the season progresses, notably as he’s 3-0 down within the teammate head-to-head in qualifying in 2024.
