F1 news: Lewis Hamilton to go ‘back to drawing board’ after Montreal misery
Lewis Hamilton admits he needs to ‘go back to the drawing board’ after missing out on a podium place at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal.
The 39-year-old is having a poor final season with Mercedes ahead of his move to Ferrari in 2025 - but showed glimpses of his former dominance of the F1 grid in Saturday's qualifying.
A poor final run saw him drop down to seventh on the grid for Sunday’s race, with his Mercedes team-mate George Russell taking pole position.
And although he improved on race day to finish fourth behind Russell in third, Lando Norris in second and winner Max Verstappen, Hamilton was frustrated by his own performance.
The seven-time world champion banked 12 points and is eighth in the 2024 driver standings, a whopping 140 points behind Red Bull’s Verstappen and 15 behind Russell in seventh place.
Hamilton put a lot of the blame at his own door, as the Mercedes cars had shown good pace over the weekend to put the team in contention for a rare race victory at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
He told Sky Sports F1: "It was over the weekend just a really poor performance from myself. Some other things came into it, but mostly myself.
"Then today (Sunday), just one of the worst races that I've driven. Just lots of mistakes. But of course, if I'd have qualified better I would have been in a much better position.
"So it is what it is. I will go back to the drawing board."
Here, Sport News Blitz takes a lighthearted look at Hamilton’s career so far.
Early Career and Entry into F1
Karting: Picture an eight-year-old Lewis Hamilton, barely tall enough to see over the steering wheel, tearing up the karting tracks like a mini speed demon. Other kids were collecting Pokemon cards; Lewis was collecting trophies.
McLaren Development Programme: By 13, Hamilton was signed to McLaren and Mercedes-Benz's Young Driver Support Programme. Imagine being a teenager and your part-time job involves racing cars. Move over, paper round!
Formula 1 Debut and Early Success
2007 Season (McLaren): Hamilton debuted in F1 in 2007, and he wasn't just there to make up the numbers. He was like that overachieving kid in class who ruins the grading curve.
He finished third in his first race, won four races in his rookie season, and narrowly missed the championship by a point. Talk about setting the bar high!
2008 Season (McLaren): In 2008, he became the youngest F1 World Champion at the time. Imagine being a world champion while some of us are still trying to figure out how to become an adult.
Mercedes Era and Dominance
2013 Move to Mercedes: In 2013, Hamilton moved to Mercedes, and it was like upgrading from a bicycle to a rocket ship.
World Championships: With Mercedes, Hamilton turned winning into a habit:
2014: Dominated the season with 11 wins, making it look as easy as a Sunday drive.
2015: Added another title with 10 wins. At this point, he might as well have been racing in cruise control.
2017: Took his fourth title, showing that even with competition, he’s the top dog.
2018: Grabbed his fifth championship, proving he's as consistent as your favorite sitcom reruns.
2019: Won his sixth title, making everyone else wonder if they should even bother showing up.
2020: Matched Schumacher's record with his seventh championship. We’re surprised he didn't just ride off into the sunset right then.
Records and Achievements
Wins and Poles: Hamilton holds the records for most Grand Prix wins, pole positions, and podium finishes. Basically, if there’s a record, he’s either broken it or got it on his to-do list.
Knighthood: He got knighted in 2021. Now he’s Sir Lewis Hamilton. The rest of us can only dream of such titles.
Activism and Advocacy: Off the track, he's a superhero without the cape, fighting for diversity in motorsport, environmental sustainability, and social justice.
Recent Seasons
2021 Season: Hamilton faced a fierce battle with Max Verstappen, and the final race in Abu Dhabi was like an episode of a soap opera. He lost the championship on the final lap, leaving everyone on the edge of their seats.
2022 Season: The 2022 season was a rollercoaster with more ups and downs than a game of snakes and ladders. Hamilton finished without a win, probably wondering if his car had turned into a pumpkin at midnight.
Legacy
Lewis Hamilton's career is like a blockbuster movie with non-stop action, records being shattered, and a hero who fights for justice.
He’s not just a racing legend; he’s an icon, using his platform to drive change in motorsport and beyond.
Hamilton’s story isn’t over yet, and we can’t wait to see what plot twists and thrilling races are in store next - especially in the famous red of Ferrari in the 2025 season.
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