Lewis Hamilton wants to “cheer up” his Mercedes team after a difficult 2022 season so Mercedes can bounce back in Formula One in 2023
Seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton says it is important to “keep everyone excited” at Mercedes as the team leaves no stone unturned to bounce back in 2023
After eight consecutive constructors’ titles, Mercedes struggled to cope with Formula One’s switch to a completely new set of regulations, and several key issues with the 2022 car prevented the team from keeping pace with Red Bull and Ferrari.
Although the Brackley-based team has made progress in tackling the W13’s handling and ‘bouncing’ issues, it still lags far behind the frontrunners. After a humbling and torturous season, the team will need a big boost over the winter break to get the car up to scratch for 2023.
Hamilton: “We know how to fight for a World Championship “
Hamilton says he is doing his bit to keep the team motivated at the factory and ready to hit the ground running with the W14 next year. “Certainly I have to try and keep pushing everyone and make sure we leave no stone unturned so we can get there next year and fight for the positions we deserve,” said the Briton.
“I think we always have to remember that this is a team where there are people who have been here for over 20 years and have won eight titles since I’ve been here and more before that. They know how to build a car that fights for the world championship. For me it’s just about supporting them as much as I can.”
Hamilton believes his team has a good enough handle on the current problems to build a much improved car for next year and he has “no doubt we will have a better car in 2023. “
Hamilton and Mercedes series in danger of snapping
“I think we know what the problems are with this car,” he explained. “I believe that as a team we have not gone from being world champions to being unable to build a good car. I have no doubt that we will have a better car next year. Whether we can fix all the problems we had this year, we will find out when we get there.”
With four races left in 2022, Mercedes come to Austin with 387 points, 67 points behind second-placed Ferrari and well clear of first midfield teams Alpine and McLaren, meaning third place in the world championship is all but assured for Mercedes.
However, should Lewis Hamilton or George Russell fail to win a race in the final events of the season, the Silver Arrows would end a Formula 1 season without a Grand Prix victory for the first time since 2011. In addition, Hamilton’s streak would also be snapped, who has been able to win a race in the premier class in every year so far.
