Hamilton: “I tested everything, and I paid the consequences” | FormulaPassion.it

From an impressive number of eight consecutive constructors’ world titles to the awareness of 3rd place in the same classification, 67 points behind Ferrari. All this, with four races from the end of the 2022 championship. A season, the current one, still devoid of victories for the Mercedesnever climbed on the top step of the podium neither with George Russell nor, above all, with Lewis Hamilton. In the event that this trend remains unchanged in the latter part of the world championship, for the seven-time world champion it would be his first year in F1 – since 2007 – without a seasonal success.

Regardless of the potential risk of a winning streak that could be interrupted, Mercedes is already working to design the single-seater of 2023, in the hope of not repeating a similar championship and with the same problems accused by the W13. A decision never taken before with this determination by the Brackley house, and which is generating mixed feelings, as explained by Hamilton himself in an interview with Sky Sports F1: “Having been here for so long, knowing how long it takes to change things and knowing how long the processes are, decisions must be made months in advance of the direction you are taking. – said the British driver – you continually collect data and obtain various information that can change things along the way. I have 1000% confidence in my team. With the rules out there, I know it can be difficult for everyone. We will have to dig even deeper in the next six months, and it won’t be easy, but I feel everyone is up to the challenge. If you look at the Red Bullthey have one extraordinary machine. They have done an incredible job this year as a whole, every single individual. Their car will continue to evolve, as will that of the Ferrari, even if he had some initial problems. We took a step back, shift gears and headed in a different direction, hoping to be on the right path now to be competitive again ”.

In addition, Hamilton is in 6th place in the drivers’ classification, a 27 points of disadvantage by Russell. A gap that number 44 explained on the eve of the United States Grand Prix, analyzing all the work done to try to solve the problems encountered by the car: “I think we’ve learned a lot from the data – he continued – I tested everything on the carI tried all possible settings 100 times and I paid the consequences in the first half of the season. For me it was about gaining knowledge for the team, so that they could literally tick the box and say it works or it doesn’t. I felt this was my role. Yes, I’m behind in points, but that’s the big picture. I hope this work has a better impact not only for the remaining races this year, but also for next year in terms of direction, because I am part of that helm. I really hope to be able to fight again next year, but now we just have to work to do it ”.