Lewis Hamilton confident in Mercedes' 2024 F1 challenger after factory visit
- Rob Fleming
- 11 December 2023
In a recent factory visit, Lewis Hamilton expressed unwavering confidence in Mercedes' ability to deliver a competitive car for the 2024 Formula 1 season.
The seven-time World Champion, fresh from accepting his third-place trophy at the FIA Prize Giving Gala in Baku, Azerbaijan, took time to inspect the progress of the team's W15 in the wind tunnel.
Despite acknowledging his non-engineering background, Hamilton shared his excitement about this pivotal phase of the year. "I'm not an engineer or a designer. So it's not easy. It's always an exciting time of the year because I have seen the current car in the wind tunnel," Hamilton conveyed to the media.
"I always go by the wind tunnel when I go to the factory to see it evolving in whichever direction it ends up going."
Team principal Toto Wolff echoed Hamilton's sentiments, emphasizing that Mercedes are committed to exhaustive efforts with their 2024 challenger. "We will leave no stone unturned," Wolff affirmed, underlining the team's determination to bounce back from a winless 2023 season.
Hamilton, anticipating significant changes, referred to the upcoming car as a "different animal" after the winter break. "I popped in just to see where we were, and when I come back, it will be again a different animal. But I have full faith in everyone that's working on it, and I'm hopeful that we will be in a much more competitive position next year."
With the curtain drawn on the 2023 F1 season, teams and drivers are enjoying a well-deserved break before gearing up for the 2024 season. The action kicks off with official F1 pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit on February 23-25, offering a tantalizing glimpse into the potential of the new cars.
As anticipation builds for the 2024 season, Hamilton's confidence in Mercedes' ongoing development provides fans with an optimistic outlook, setting the stage for an exciting year ahead in Formula 1.
