Hamilton hopes to close the gap by the end of the season

Mercedes admits that the new car did not prove to be competitive enough, so the team has already embarked on a thorough modernization. Lewis Hamilton hopes that the efforts made will close the gap with Red Bull Racing by the end of the season.

“Most likely, Red Bull will continue to refine the car,” Lewis Hamilton shared his thoughts with reporters in Melbourne. – Some cars reach the peak of their efficiency, after which it is no longer possible to make them better, but Red Bull will probably be able to add more. They have a great team and I’m sure they will continue to increase their downforce.

For our part, we need to make sure that our improvements also allow us to add. Hopefully we will close the current gap by the end of the year.”

At the same time, Lewis reiterated the idea that he had no plans to leave Mercedes: “I continue to feel at home in the Mercedes family. I see myself in Mercedes until the last days of my career.

As long as I can move the team forward, I will continue to contribute. When at some point I realize that I can no longer do this, I give way to the young people.

Speaking of the problems the 2023 car presented, Lewis noted the awkward landing in the cockpit: “I don’t know if people know that we are much closer to the front wheels than any of the other racers. The cockpit of our car has shifted a lot forward.

This gives you the feeling that you are sitting on the front wheels. This is one of the most unpleasant sensations possible only when flying. In ordinary life, you wouldn’t like the feel of the front wheels under your feet when approaching a roundabout.

This landing changes the attitude to the car and changes the perception of movement. This makes it harder to predict her behavior than if you were closer to the center. I’m really having trouble with this landing.