The British Formula One-ace is confident of his team Mercedes' chances with new-regulations coming in to play in the 2022 F1 Championship.
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British Formula One-ace and seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton remains one title adrift of creating a world record. He has, however, not shown any lack of confidence in Mercedes’ chance of adding to their cabinet of silverware in the 2022 F1 Championship with new regulations coming into play. It is notable that the team managed to clinch their own record-extending eighth consecutive constructors’ championship with the run starting in 2014.
And Hamilton doesn’t fear a slip of crown from the team, with arguably the biggest rule change in the sport’s history, as he believes that Mercedes never makes mistakes and they have set the benchmark high for themselves.
“Why would I ever think that?” Hamilton said at the pre-season running in Barcelona on being asked whether he feared Mercedes’ crown might slip in this new era of the sport. “We’ve won eight [titles] in a row. Why would I feel that way?
“My team don’t make mistakes,” he added. “Of course, there is always a risk, but we don’t make mistakes. There’s a lot of very intelligent people back at the factory and I trust them 100%. Whatever we start with today, whether it’s good or bad, we’ll work through it. We’ve always had a great development plan and workforce.”
READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton, George Russell top Barcelona testing session for Mercedes
The new regulations have seen the constructors’ come up with new car designs in their bid to produce the best performance. Mercedes’ Technical Director Mike Elliot admitted that Red Bull’s sidepods have stoked interest at Brackley while Mercedes have also made some differentiations.
Hamilton has been a close witness to changes over the years and believes that this season, in particular, will be a start from the scratch as no one has a clear idea about how their car can perform.
“I think every year’s exciting, but of course [in] previous years, it was an evolution of the previous year’s car; in this one, it’s completely brand-new.
“Of course, I’ve seen the designs of our car over several months, but now to see everyone’s car out there, you’re trying to get a close eye to see what is different, if there is anything, why certain teams have chosen a certain route in terms of sidepod design, front wing and the floor.
“So I think it’s the most exciting [pre-season], and again, you have absolutely no idea where you stand.”
Hamilton missed out on his record title in 2021 by a whisker as Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing won the season after his victory at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2021. The top-two racers in 2021 were tied at 369.5 each before the race with Verstappen taking the pole position to become the first ever Dutch to win the title.
