When Hamilton had a rubbish F1 car - 2009 McLaren

Lewis Hamilton’s struggles with the Mercedes W13 in 2022 have moved some to suggest that it is the first time the seven-time world champion has not had the best car in Formula 1. As Hamilton has pointed out, that rather overlooks McLaren’s MP4-24 of 2009…

In the latest of Autosport’s “Short View Back to the Past” series, Chief Editor Kevin Turner recalls the problems McLaren and Hamilton faced in 2009 – and how they went from qualifying near the back of the field to challenging for race wins.