Hamilton was 'a mercenary' when he first joined Mercedes

When Lewis Hamilton made the switch from top team McLaren to Mercedes in 2021, he surprised just about everyone in the paddock. Mercedes was certainly not known as a successful team. In hindsight, it turned out to be a brilliant choice, as Hamilton won six titles with the German team.

The Briton thanks the team for his success every so often, but that was certainly not the case in Mercedes' first season. "When he came to us, he was a mercenary. He was there for himself to win races. That drive to win hasn't gone away, but he has realised that you do that with a team, as part of a team. He's a very different person to when he first came to us," says chief strategist James Vowles in Beyond the Grid.

From risky to clinical

Hamilton has not only grown as a team player, but according to sporting director Ron Meadows, he has also become more calculating while driving. "At the start, that drive to win was affecting his driving style. He's become a lot more calculated now. He's thinking about the championship from the first race. Everything is very clinical now."

That new driving style has earned Hamilton plenty of points over the last few seasons, with him choosing the safe option, rather than the risky action. Hamilton himself has commented that Max Verstappen needs to learn that too if he is ever to become world champion. With the big steps that the Dutchman has made in the last two seasons, that will surely work out.