The seven-time world champion failed to win a single race in 2022 and has had a lackluster start to the 2023 campaign.
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For the past couple of years, Mercedes have been in a spot of bother. Ever since Max Verstappen edged Lewis Hamilton to the driver’s world championship in 2021, the team has simply not been the same dominant force fans have been used to. This fact rings true even for Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time world champion failed to win a single race in 2022 and has had a lackluster start to the 2023 campaign as well. Hamilton has finished fifth in both the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GP.
Earlier, team principal Toto Wolff said that he would understand if the motorsport legend chooses to leave the team if they do not improve within the next couple of years. When asked about the same, Hamilton said that he was not bothered about the comments. “I’m not focused on that,” the Brit said as per RacingNews365.com. “I love this team. I’m so grateful for everyone that’s been on the journey with me with this team. I don’t envisage being anywhere else. I don’t see myself quitting. I don’t feel like I’m a quitter.”
However, the second oldest driver on the grid in 2023 has also acknowledged that Mercedes’ performance this season has been below par and that it has not given him a lot to be positive about. “I wouldn’t say that it’s giving me a lot,” he said.
“I’ve been there and done that and bought the t-shirt many times. But I am trying to be patient and work with the team to get us to a good place. That’s all I can say right now. I’m not planning on going anywhere.”
After what he called “a tough couple of years,” Daniel Ricciardo, the home favourite and third Red Bull driver, has outlined both his professional and personal goals for the upcoming season as Formula 1 prepares to travel to Australia for the third race of the 2023 season. After leaving McLaren at the conclusion of the 2022 season, Ricciardo joined Red Bull, his previous team where he competed from 2014 to 2018. In a brief post on his LinkedIn account, Ricciardo discussed his goals for the upcoming year in his new role.
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“This is the first year in as long as I can remember that my goals aren’t going to be 100% about racing and competing. Whilst there’s still an element of that, it’s in a different capacity this year and I now have space for a separate set of goals to focus on too,” said the eight-time race winner. “From a professional point of view, this year is really about being a team player at Red Bull. I’m back in an environment and ultimately a family that I have a lot of good memories with, and it feels really good to be back there. But it’s not about me this year, it’s about the wider team and trying to contribute and help them where I can.”
“Jumping into the simulator, learning their car and helping shape the development are all things I’m focused on doing. In turn that will develop my abilities, my confidence, and my enjoyment behind the wheel,” he added. “It’s been a tough couple of years professionally, so there’s an element of that competitor in me wanting to remind people that I’m still here, still a professional and still contributing to success.”
