Lewis Hamilton still keeps an eye on how his old team McLaren performs and wants to see them do well despite now racing for a rival.
Hamilton's Formula 1 career began at McLaren, as he spent his rookie season racing alongside – and often quarrelling with – Fernando Alonso. He spent six seasons with the team in total, winning his first drivers' title in 2008 before departing at the end of 2012.
His Mercedes move was seen as a risk at the time, but it was one which has paid off in a big way. Six more title successes have followed as part of a Silver Arrows team which dominated the sport between 2014 and 2020, while McLaren have regressed.
Progress has been made in Woking over the last two or three seasons, but still McLaren are some way off being able to compete for race wins and championships. A difficult 2022 season may prove to delay their return to the top even further – something which saddens Hamilton despite the fact he races for a rival.
Speaking to broadcaster Channel 4, the seven-time world champion revealed the soft spot he still has. "I like looking at McLaren, I always check where they are because that was where I started and I'm always wishing them well even though they're competitors of mine," he said.
"There will be days where they're down and I feel sad for them because, again, that's where I first did my simulation rounds, drove my car for the first time. I kind of want them to do well, so I hope they have a better year next year."
Like McLaren, his own team Mercedes did not enjoy 2022 as much as they would have liked. A less competitive car, certainly by their own lofty standards, left the SIlver Arrows unable to compete with Red Bull and Ferrari for most of the year.
It meant Hamilton failed to win a race this calendar year for the first time in his entire F1 career. As frustrating as that obviously was for someone so used to success, the Brit says the experience has given him newfound respect for those teams who constantly have to scrap for every ounce of performance every season.
He added: "I felt this real appreciation for all these other teams that are trying to do the same thing, with the same intentions, trying to be better and fighting for something. Going through difficult times because they've built a car that's clearly not capable of fighting at the front. It's pretty cool to be a part of and to witness."
