© LAT Images for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd
Mercedes Motorsport Strategy Director James Vowles says Lewis Hamilton became “the greatest sportsman that exists” when he stopped being “a mercenary”.
According to James Vowles, Lewis Hamilton’s mindset when he first joined Mercedes in 2013 was that of “a mercenary”.
“When he joined us, he was a mercenary,” Vowles said on the Beyond the Grid podcast.
“He was here for himself to win races. That desire to win hasn’t disappeared, but what he’s realised is you do it with a team, and as a part of a team, and you become the greatest sportsman that exists as a result of it.
“One individual can’t do it by himself. He’s a very different character to the character that joined us.”
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Mercedes’ sporting director Ron Meadows further elaborated on Hamilton’s growth over the years.
“Early on this relentless desire to win, every race would manifest itself in his driving,” Meadows said.
“I think now he’s just becoming a much more calculating driver. From the first lap of the first race he’s thinking about championships.
“He’s thinking about looking after the car and the tyres a lot more. Everything is just becoming really calculated and clean and clinical.
“Certainly his approach to the weekend and his thinking in the car. His target is perfection and that’s a difficult target to pick.
“But that’s what he’s trying to achieve.”
