Lewis Hamilton believes there may be sufficient “potential” within the Mercedes W13 Method 1 automotive to win Grands Prix within the second half of the season.
The eight-time Constructors’ Champions have struggled badly within the 2022 marketing campaign, as the brand new design for the bottom impact rules was far off the tempo of Crimson Bull and Ferrari – who’ve shared the 13 race wins between them.
Hamilton and new Mercedes team-mate George Russell have been affected by porpoising for giant chunks of the season, leaving them unable to combat for race wins.
Nevertheless, the staff have loved a resurgence in type over current weeks, together with double podiums in France and Hungary – with Russell taking a maiden F1 pole place on the Hungaroring.
Seven-time Drivers’ Champion Hamilton now reckons the staff are able to combat for victories once more, as soon as the season resumes in Belgium after the summer season break.
Hamilton believes wins are potential with the W13
Hamilton, winner of 103 Grands Prix as of Hungary in 2022, is the one F1 driver to have gained no less than one race in each season he has competed – stretching again to 2007.
His final win got here within the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after contact with title rival Max Verstappen mid-race. It meant the 2 headed to the Abu Dhabi finale degree on factors, with the Dutchman profitable each the race and title for Crimson Bull.
Since then, Hamilton’s finest outcomes have been a pair of second place finishes in France and Hungary as he appears to be like to maintain his proud profitable report intact.
Talking in Budapest to former McLaren team-mate Heikki Kovalainen and Viaplay, Hamilton shared his perception that profitable in 2022 is feasible.
“I truthfully assume there may be potential to win races, and I am hoping that they [Mercedes] discover one thing that simply brings us that little bit of additional downforce with out bouncing. [That’s] been powerful for the staff to attain, however nobody’s given up on it,” defined Hamilton.
“There’s a variety of satisfaction in everybody’s work correctly, however I actually do hope by the tip of the yr, we’re in a position to get get a win. I actually consider we’ll get a win this yr.
“One win shouldn’t be sufficient for us by way of what we work for, however it’ll hopefully be in good stead for subsequent yr.
“I believe proper now after I’m speaking to the staff, I am like, ‘Hey, that is what I do not need subsequent yr and that is what I want subsequent yr and on this automotive’. And so, I am attempting to assist steer them to make it possible for they supply us with that subsequent yr.”
Hamilton warns Mercedes towards stubbornness
The least profitable season by way of wins in Hamilton’s profession was his first with Mercedes again in 2013 – claiming solely a single victory in Hungary, one in all eight he is collected in Budapest.
Whereas Mercedes have improved their efficiency of late, Hamilton additionally issued a warning to the staff towards complacency and stubbornness with their 2023 design.
“I believe, basically, we have now to acknowledge that the others [Red Bull and Ferrari] have carried out a greater job. And whichever form of philosophy they’ve taken has labored nicely for them,” he added.
“We have now to take heed to that transferring ahead. We won’t be cussed and say, ‘No, our means is certainly the best way and it’ll finally work’, as a result of we may await years for that. And we have now to be fast.
“We have now to be concise. We have now to be humble in our strategy, which I believe we will probably be.
“That is the conversations [happening] within the background.”