In the latest episode of the Sky Sports F1 Podcast, hosted by Matt Baker, we explore the riveting tale of Lewis Hamilton‘s journey, as he is jolted back to reality amidst Mercedes‘ “untapped” mistakes, now thrust into the spotlight. It’s no secret that Lewis Hamilton has been a force to be reckoned with, cementing his legacy as one of the sport’s all-time greats. However, the 2023 season has presented new challenges, as the cracks in Mercedes’ once seemingly impenetrable armor are exposed.

The Brackley team has been relegated in terms of competitiveness, & is in the fight for P2 way behind Red Bull. With the title race intensifying, the pressure is mounting, and mistakes can no longer be brushed under the rug for Hamilton & Co. Also, with the dominion battle at an all-time high, Mercedes shall not be leaving any stones unturned for a fantastic 2024 performance, which is more a need than a task.

As we delve into the intricacies of Mercedes’ strategic blunders and technical missteps that have brought them back down to earth, Karun Chandhok’s unparalleled technical expertise provides a comprehensive analysis. When asked if he was Lewis Hamilton himself, he would be confident in Mercedes’ ability to help him bag an 8th title, Chandhok commented: “Well, no, the reality is they’re a long way behind Red Bull, aren’t they?” Although Chandhok is still as much hopeful as any other Hamilton fan to see him win another title and break Michael Schuamcher’s record. He justified his belief but at the same time has plenty of advice and criticism for the Silver Arrows garage.

“I’m with Toni in the sense that I’d like to see Lewis win that 8th championship, you know. And I think, you know, I’m one like these guys. I admire greatness; it’d be amazing to be involved in the sport when we see someone break that record. But the reality is the gap between them, the chasm between Mercedes and Red Bull right now, is so big that unless they unlock a huge amount of untapped potential for next season, it’s gonna be hard for them to close that gap.”

Along the same lines, Chandhok has given strong views on why the Silver Arrows is a title contender. Even going as far as describing the Mercedes duo as better than the reigning champions.

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Chandhok’s Verdict: Lewis Hamilton-George Russell Duo Reigns as F1’s Finest

Karun Chandhok shared his perspective on driver pairings in the sport. Despite Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez holding the top two spots in the drivers’ championship, Chandhok does not consider them the best duo on the grid. While Verstappen currently leads the world championship with an impressive 125-point advantage over his teammate Perez, Chandhok believes that another pair is performing even better. According to the Indian analyst, the Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell takes the crown as the top driver pairing in the current Formula 1 field.

According to GPblog.com, Chandhok acknowledges the improvements Mercedes has made as a team but expresses that they might still be somewhat disappointed with their overall performance. Nevertheless, he firmly believes that the collective driving talents of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell make them the strongest duo on the grid. While Lewis Hamilton holds the fourth position in the championship, George Russell occupies the sixth spot with an equal number of points as Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.