Lewis Hamilton has expressed satisfaction with Mercedes’ preparations for the 2024 F1 season. Describing the team’s efforts as “massively encouraging,” he highlighted certain aspects as the “best he’s ever seen” during his tenure with the team.
This season marks Hamilton’s twelfth and final one with Mercedes before his highly anticipated move to Ferrari next year.
As the new campaign commences with the Bahrain Grand Prix this Saturday, the seven-time world champion is determined to conclude his tenure with Mercedes on a high note, especially considering his last F1 victory dates back to the end of 2021.
Mercedes has rolled out a completely revamped car for the 2024 season to enhance its competitive edge, featuring significant alterations compared to its predecessor.
While acknowledging that Mercedes is perceived to be trailing behind Red Bull and possibly Ferrari in the F1 hierarchy leading up to the inaugural race, there’s optimism within the team about their ability to challenge as the season unfolds.
Reflecting on the team’s performance during the three days of running in Bahrain, Hamilton provided his insights, stating: “Overall, it’s been a really good test. I’m really proud of everyone trackside and those back at the factory.
“Every single woman and man has been working tirelessly, both at Brackley, Brixworth, and here in Bahrain.
“It’s massively encouraging and great to see everyone working so well together. The focus, determination, and communication are the best I’ve ever seen.”
Mercedes teammate George Russell has already remarked that the W15 is “easier to drive.”
Hamilton acknowledges that Mercedes still has a significant amount of work ahead but remains optimistic, stating that it’s a “great platform to build on.”
“We know we’ve got work to do and we’re not yet where we want to be. We knew that would be the case coming into the test though. We’ve got a great platform to build on.
“We’ll go away and work hard over the next couple of days to go through all the data from the test.
“I’m really excited for the start of the season next week and we’ll be heading into it in good shape.”
