Lewis Hamilton has confirmed he is prepared to make a huge sacrifice as he targets another major milestone in his F1 career. The seven-time champion is ready to give up on winning a race this season despite his drought now lasting for over 18 months.
Instead, he has urged Mercedes bosses to start preparing next year’s machine if it could give him an edge in a possible title bid. Hamilton made the revelation when pushed on whether he could win at least one Grand Prix in 2023.
He responded: “I don’t know. I mean I’m trying to win a race, as I said I really have no idea. Depends where the car goes. I think hopefully we will get close but I can’t predict what Aston are going to do, what Ferrari are going to do, where Red Bull are going to be. But I hope so.
“I also hope we don’t focus too much on winning the race this year. I care less to win a race this year and more to win the championship next year.”
It comes just weeks after Hamilton made a similar assertion at the Canadian Grand Prix. After finishing on the podium in Montreal, Hamilton stressed the Silver Arrows needed to “take their eye a little bit off the ball” to look at their 2024 model.
He stressed Red Bull were likely “already working” on their next model due to their massive advantage at the front of the field. The team have enjoyed a slight resurgence in form since introducing new upgrades ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix.
Hamilton and Russell secured a double podium finish in Spain with the multiple champion securing P3 in Canada. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has already teased Mercedes development direction for next season.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has already teased Mercedes development direction for next season.
The Austrian revealed the German marque would be going down a slightly different route with “fundamental” updates based on what they have learned from the W14. He commented: “The good thing is that we are constantly learning about what the car is doing.
“There are going to be some fundamental design changes for next year, but it’s not that we’re building stuff. It’s more like what are we simulating? That is not measured in money, or teraflops or wind tunnel hours.”
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