Lewis Hamilton acknowledges Mercedes’ progress while admitting the car’s performance isn’t yet optimal as the 2023 summer break looms.
Following several dominant years, Mercedes experienced a significant decline last season due to challenges in adapting to the new regulations.
Issues related to grip and porpoising hampered their performance, resulting in just one victory in 2022. This marked a unique occurrence in Hamilton’s Formula 1 career as he failed to secure a Grand Prix win throughout the calendar year.
Throughout this year, considerable efforts have been made to enhance their performance, albeit the progress remains distant from Red Bull, who have dominated with an impeccable record of nine wins this campaign.
Lewis Hamilton has managed some commendable finishes recently, securing podium positions in Catalunya and Montreal.
However, he candidly admits that the car still falls short of meeting his ideal driving expectations, despite acknowledging the noticeable improvements achieved so far.
“I’ve not been happy in the car for the past year and a bit,” the seven-time world champion remarked in an interview with the media.
“The step we took has moved it more in the direction I’ve been asking for. Slowly we’re rebuilding confidence in the platform I have. It’s still not 100%. I’m still not able to extract full potential from myself but we’re getting there.
“You’re just limited,” he added, explaining why the car has not been great to drive.
“The stability of the car and the confidence of where you can put the car. You saw last year I crashed here and so did George. The car has been very unpredictable for a long time but it’s becoming more predictable which is a positive.”
After a series of encouraging performances, the Silver Arrows experienced a forgettable weekend at the recently concluded Austrian Grand Prix, leaving team principal Toto Wolff to describe it as a ‘bruising weekend’.
However, the Brackley-based team is determined to bounce back stronger as they prepare for their home Grand Prix at the iconic Silverstone circuit.
With their sights set on redemption, they will be unleashing their full arsenal of skills and strategies to deliver a memorable performance on familiar territory.
