Hamilton: “Not yet able to compete with Red Bull”

The 2022 season was a blank year for Lewis Hamilton. For the first time since its debut in F1 in 2007, the Briton did not win a single victory, while his team Mercedes only pocketed one through George Russell, in Brazil.

The German manufacturer has struggled to adapt to new technical regulations on ground effect, suffering from rebound problems on its radically designed W13. In Bahrain, during the pre-season testing of this new exercise, the three days resembled a roller coaster.

The relief of having gotten rid of this cursed porpoise on the first day was followed by great worry on Friday. To the point of bringing Toto wolff to convene a crisis meeting in the evening. Finally, progress appeared on Saturday along with promising avenues of work.

« It's been an interesting few days, judge Lewis Hamilton. It's never easy, there are always many discoveries. What impressed me the most is that this is my 11^e year with the team, and everyone showed up with the same mentality, working hard. No one was complacent. »

If he considers that this news car is a good basis for the future, the seven-time world champion is aware that there is still a way to go before returning to the level of Ferrari and especially Red Bull. " We realize we have a huge mountain to climb, but no one cares, explains the English pilot. Everyone has kept their heads down so far, I'm really proud of that. I know that everyone here, in the garage, but also at the factory is going to go through all this data and keep going. »

« Reliability was good overall, continues Sir Lewis. We were stopped on Friday (hydraulic problem while George Russell was at the wheel. Editor's note), but it was generally good. It's always nice when the track cools down a little, when you put on the soft tires. We're not quite where we want to be yet, but we have a good base to start from. »

A result that is the polar opposite of what Mercedes had experienced a year earlier. “ Everyone was upset when the test ended last year, says Hamilton. None of us knew what was happening with the rebound, where it was coming from, we hadn't seen it in the wind tunnel.

We were supposed to bring a 1,5 second upgrade and we couldn't use it. It was hard (...). This year we have things we can work on. It's not yet perfect, summer we are not yet able to compete with the Red Bulls, or even with the Ferraris. »

The Briton concludes with a touch of optimism: “ Things have changed. The bounce is gone and there are a few things that are better. Who knows where we will be next week? We just have to stay positive and keep pushing. »

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