Nobody would ever doubt his credentials, but it’s clear he’s not operating at the peak of his powers just now.
For Lewis Hamilton, read Thierry Neuville.
Hamilton hasn’t thrived since the Formula 1 regulations pivoted towards the ‘ground effect era’ in 2022; not even his blockbuster switch to Ferrari last year improved his fortunes. Arguably, things got worse.
The World Rally Championship’s regulations also changed in 2022, but to say Rally1 hasn’t worked out for Neuville would, however, be complete nonsense considering he won the world title in 2024.
Yet there’s comparisons to draw between the Belgian’s current plight and Formula 1’s seven-time world champion, at least according to Neuville himself.
“I feel a bit like Lewis Hamilton at the moment,” he told DirtFish.
Neuville may have won the recent Rally Saudi Arabia, but he's having a tough time just now
The Hyundai driver’s logic sits in his lack of feeling with his i20 N Rally1. Consistently, the 37-year-old is talking about how he is unable to find any comfort behind the wheel of his car. Hyundai’s performance may not be where it wants to be either, but Neuville’s primary concern is his inability to extract the most from what is there in the same way team-mate Adrien Fourmaux appears able to.
For his entire career, Neuville has been known as a driver able to battle through anything. The day he gives up is one that’s yet to dawn. He insists that will is still there, it’s just not manifesting itself in enough performance.
Neuville: “I mean, the willing is still there, but I feel like at the moment, even with the will, it’s not working. It’s too challenging.
“We don’t know what we are fighting, but we are fighting against something which is obviously more difficult to solve. And that makes it very, very difficult.
“I mean, I’m not the only one. We are at least three in the team. And you can see also a bit in Formula 1 some huge, very strong drivers fighting against that thing which when it doesn’t come things don’t work and I really feel a bit like Lewis Hamilton at the moment.”
You can have a lot of ingredients to make a good salad. You only need to choose the ones which really add something to your recipeThierry Neuville
What Hyundai calls the ‘Evo’ car has not proved a particular success, and several drivers – Neuville, Fourmaux, Ott Tänak, Hayden Paddon and now Esapekka Lappi – have driven it.
That feedback is valuable but it’s about quality not quantity, says Neuville.
“We have had lots of good drivers in the team and I’ve always had very good team-mates and they always brought something. But at the end, I mean, you can have a lot of ingredients to make a good salad. You only need to choose the ones which really add something to your recipe.”
With all that said, what can Neuville achieve in the here and now at this week’s Rally Sweden?
Neuville has strong form in Sweden, finishing on the podium in three of the last four years
“Generally, we have always been fast here,” he said. “Even last year, we have been quite strong here. t’s just about the feeling in the car, which still needs to improve a bit.
“It wasn’t perfect last year and we were able to do a good rally here, so I really hope that we are up to speed. That’s our target. And then, yeah, bring home a good result for the team. We are desperately waiting for it.
“We got the victory last year at the end of the season, but we want to be consistently fast and consistently fighting for podiums. Obviously, Monte Carlo was a big disappointment for us, clearly. Lots of frustration as well, but now we look ahead.
“There’s a new chance just right in front of us.”
