Thierry Neuville, the reigning World Rally Champion, is currently struggling to connect with his Hyundai i20 N Rally1, drawing a parallel between his difficulties and those experienced by Formula 1 star Lewis Hamilton. Despite triumphing in the 2024 championship, Neuville has admitted he is not performing at his usual level due to a lack of feeling with his car after significant regulatory changes introduced in 2022.
This comparison arises amid frustrating times for both athletes, with Hamilton failing to regain his dominance since Formula 1 adopted the new ‘ground effect’ regulations and Neuville battling similar challenges in the World Rally Championship (WRC) under Rally1 rules.
Neuville’s Current Struggles Behind the Wheel
While Neuville secured a win at Rally Saudi Arabia earlier this year, he has expressed ongoing struggles to find comfort and confidence in his vehicle. The Belgian driver points to a mystery obstacle that hinders his ability to maximize the car’s potential, contrasting with the seemingly better performance of his teammate Adrien Fourmaux. Hyundai’s overall package has not met expectations since introducing the ‘Evo’ version of the car, which several team drivers, including Ott Tänak and Esapekka Lappi, have tested without discovering a definitive solution.
Known throughout his career for relentless determination, Neuville insists his will to succeed remains intact, though it currently fails to translate into optimal results.
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.
?Thierry Neuville, World Rally Driver
Drawing Parallels with Lewis Hamilton’s Formula 1 Difficulties
Neuville openly relates his situation to Hamilton’s, highlighting the struggle that top drivers face when dealing with performance issues beyond their control. Just as Hamilton has battled with unfavorable car dynamics in Formula 1’s latest regulation phase, Neuville finds himself in a similar battle in rally racing.
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.
?Thierry Neuville, World Rally Driver
Evaluating Team Contributions and the Search for Solutions
Hyundai’s rally department has relied on insights from multiple experienced drivers to refine the Evo car, but Neuville emphasizes quality over quantity when it comes to feedback. He believes that while a diverse pool of drivers provides valuable perspectives, only select inputs genuinely improve the car’s performance.
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.
?Thierry Neuville, World Rally Driver
Prospects for the Upcoming Rally Sweden
Looking ahead to Rally Sweden, Neuville remains cautiously optimistic due to his consistent strong finishes in the event over recent years. Despite acknowledging that his car’s feeling still requires improvement, he hopes to capitalize on previous success to bring home a solid result for Hyundai.
Generally, we have always been fast here, Even last year, we have been quite strong here. It’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.
?Thierry Neuville, World Rally Driver
Neuville also reflected on recent setbacks, including a disappointing performance at Monte Carlo, but said his focus is firmly on seizing upcoming opportunities.
There’s a new chance just right in front of us.
?Thierry Neuville, World Rally Driver
Significance of Neuville’s Current Performance and Outlook
Neuville’s comparison to Lewis Hamilton underscores the shared challenges elite drivers face when adapting to major technical changes, illustrating how top talent can be limited by factors beyond raw skill. His candid reflections reveal the complexity of extracting performance when car feel and confidence falter, even for world champions.
With Rally Sweden imminent, the pressure is on Neuville and Hyundai to convert potential into consistent podiums and victories, suggesting the coming events will be critical in determining the team’s trajectory for the rest of the 2026 WRC season.
