Mercedes is fully confident in Lewis Hamilton’s drive and ambition to reclaim his winning form in Formula 1.
After two seasons without a race victory, questions have surfaced about the seven-time world champion’s ongoing passion, particularly after a few difficult years for Mercedes.
READ MORE: Wolff Backs Hamilton’s Prospects for 2024 F1 Championships
Following a season without wins in the 2023 season, Mercedes is hopeful that their revamped W15 car will bring them up to speed with the current world champions, Red Bull, who have been the dominant force for the past two years.
James Allison, Mercedes’ technical director, has strongly dismissed any suggestions that Hamilton’s motivation has diminished during this challenging period.
“I think you’d struggle to find a driver anywhere in the grid that wasn’t motivated,” Allison told Motorsport.
“I think that sort of comes with the territory with them. And generally speaking, the more successful the drivers have been, the more sort of inescapable that compulsive need to win is.
“In Lewis’s case, it’s just a core part of who he is, so there’s no doubt about his motivation to get back to winning ways. But whether or not he can do that, will be much more in the hands of the equipment we’ve given him than in his own hands. He’s always had that ability there.”
Mercedes is optimistic that they have effectively addressed what was described as a “spiteful” rear-end issue, a problem that significantly affected their 2023 car’s performance.
“Both drivers, their role over the winter is very largely to look after their physical condition, make sure that they’re mentally prepared and just stay in touch with us about our successes and failures as we are going through the hoops of getting the car specified, built, tested and ready for them,” he added.
“It isn’t really a part of the year where they can have other than an observing role with what we’re doing.
“Once the car is running and once the car is talking to us, the person that is the interpreter is the driver, and then their voices start to have much greater weight. So over the winter, it’s just getting themselves ready for the new challenge.”
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