Lewis Hamilton is worried. © ANSA / FRANCK ROBICHON

Hamilton sounds the alarm: “We are far away”

According to Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes is facing its biggest development challenge to date in the next half year due to the large gap to the superior industry leader Red Bull.

September 25, 2023

From: dpa/dl

“I have no idea where we will be with the car next year, but we are still a long way away. The next six months have to be the biggest six months of development we've ever had to close that gap, to really knock on," Hamilton said after fifth in Japan.

The former series world champion noted that driving his car is currently not much fun. “The car feels the same as last year, it jumps and slides,” said the Brit, who has not won since 2021, after his “tough” Suzuka weekend. He and his teammate George Russell, who placed seventh on Sunday, constantly try to provide as much input as possible for improvements.

Even the McLarens are faster

Toto Wolff's racing team also has something to think about The Mercedes-powered McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri landed in second and third place in Japan behind dominator Max Verstappen. “We cannot close our eyes to this. We need to look at what they did and move in that direction too. But I am firmly convinced that my team can do it,” said the 38-year-old.

“The car feels the same as last year, it bounces and slides” Lewis Hamilton

The crux of the development is more downforce. “We've always been great at adding downforce to the car. “The way our car works now, more downforce just doesn’t work – it just makes it jump more,” explained Hamilton in anticipation of a smoother-running car for the coming season. “Hopefully with the change in philosophy we will get back to where the team deserves to be because it is a world champion team.”