Lewis Hamilton sends plain warning to Max Verstappen and Co, declares he is ready to fight for F1 title ‘tomorrow’

By his lofty standards, Lewis Hamilton has had a torrid time in Formula 1 ever since the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. He has not yet won a race – or even taken a pole position. Moreover, while factors other than plain performance may have contributed to it, he was also outscored by teammate George Russell over the course of the 2022 season. It’s hard to see him competing for the championship anytime soon, mostly because his package is simply not good enough.

This may improve in the future, though he’s highly unlikely to challenge Max Verstappen (or Red Bull, in general) for the championship in 2023. But anything can happen. Mercedes have a big upgrade package coming, with the ‘new’ car concept, possibly in Imola. That may give them a better base to fight Red Bull, considering the cost penalty may also hit F1’s current top team soon. But this doesn’t necessarily mean the Silver Arrows will be championship contenders immediately.

Obviously, driving a non-championship caliber, ‘difficult’ car, is not ideal for Hamilton. He conveyed as much in an interview with Fox Sports: “I don’t like driving not great cars. I don’t like driving a car that’s not the car that we weren’t meant to have, but I love that challenge of ‘okay, what can I do with it?’ Wins are not possible right, so what is the maximum we can get? Can we be a little cheeky and if fifth is the best we can get, can we get a fourth or a third?”

For Hamilton, the goal is to “be ready” for when the car does deliver, like it did in Sao Paulo, or to a lesser extent in Melbourne, last weekend. He said: “Just make sure we are consistent and fit and ready so when the car does all of a sudden switch on, and it is the car you dreamed of having, you’re ready.” The ‘ready’ part goes a bit further for Hamilton here – he thinks he is ready to win a world championship. Considering he’s won seven already, who would disagree?

Read More: ‘Hasn’t delivered what it said,’ Lewis Hamilton left dissatisfied with new F1 regulations

Lewis Hamilton feels he has “prepared” himself “in the best way”

For the past year or so, Max Verstappen and Red Bull have, quite easily, been the dominant force in F1. They have seldom been truly challenged by Ferrari and Mercedes; never consistently, especially not during the races. Despite having been on the back foot for a long time, Lewis Hamilton feels he has prepared himself “the best way” in regards to the championship.

The seven-time world champion said: “I am ready to win a World Championship. I have prepared the best way I can this year – the best I have ever prepared – and if the car comes correct tomorrow I will be ready to fight for the World Championship, but unfortunately that’s not the case. I am working with everyone here and back at the factory to get there.”

It’ll be interesting to see how much progress Mercedes are able to make, now that they’ve ditched the ‘zeropods’ concept. As Hamilton claimed in an interview, the team had not listened to him on the car’s design and problems. Now, hopefully, for him, they’ll take a direction better suited and more comfortable for him – and George Russell, too, of course.

In case you missed it:

• Lewis Hamilton recalls getting “absolutely hammered” on a wild night in the pub during his teens
• Mercedes F1 admit they were wrong to disregard Lewis Hamilton’s ‘different idea’ in favor of ambitious ‘zeropods’ W14 concept

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