Lewis Hamilton is already relishing the 2024 Formula 1 season after experiencing the “exciting” sight of seeing the Mercedes W15 car evolving in the team’s wind tunnel.
Amid Mercedes’ struggles to get on top of the latest ground effect machinery, Hamilton has ended the past two seasons without a victory, marking his longest F1 win drought.
The German marque had opted to retain its ‘zeropod’ concept but abandoned the philosophy for a more conventional sidepod solution at the Monaco Grand Prix in May.
But following a torrid weekend in Brazil last month, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff likened the overhaul to its 2023 car to placing “plasters on something that’s not right.”
Having been restricted by the architecture of its launch-spec car, Wolff confirmed that Mercedes was pressing on with pursuing a revised direction with its 2024 challenger.
Despite being pessimistic about Mercedes’ chances of catching up to Red Bull after the final race, Hamilton has clarified that he retains “full faith” in his Mercedes squad.
Speaking at the annual FIA Gala in Baku, the Briton said: “I think it’s always difficult to… I mean I’m not an engineer nor a designer, so it’s not easy to able to see the car.”
“It’s always an exciting time of the year because I have seen the car in the wind tunnel, I always go by the wind tunnel when I go to the factory, to see it evolving in whichever direction it ends up going.
“Literally when I was leaving yesterday 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 hopeful that will be in a much more competitive position next year.”
Mercedes recovered from its sluggish start to beat Ferrari by three points to second place in the Constructors’ Championship, one position higher than it achieved in 2022.
Hamilton, who collected the prize for ending third in the Drivers’ standings, revealed that the mood is “very positive” within the side’s ranks as it bids to return to title contention.
“The team, all the members in the team are incredibly grateful to have got second in the Constructors’ given the challenges that we face this season,” Hamilton added.
“It’s always quite emotional. I’ve been with the team for such a long time but every time you go back to the two Brixworth and Brackley, and you’re reminded of just how big this team is pushing you forward behind.
“You see every individual, some people that are that are new to the team that have joined whilst I’ve been here, and some that have been here even way before, and also some that have worked on my engine since my first Grand Prix in Formula One, it’s amazing to see just the progress and the growth that.
“Also our team is becoming more and more diverse, which has been really like pleasing for me to see that we are moving in the right direction.”
