Lewis Hamilton calls on Mercedes to have ‘greatest six months of development’ to challenge Red Bull in 2024 F1 season
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Updated 24/09/2023 at 13:02 GMT+1
After finishing fifth at the Japanese Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton issued a rallying cry to his Mercedes team, calling on them to have "the greatest six months of development" over the winter in order to challenge Red Bull's dominance in 2024. The seven-time world champion currently sits third in the driver standings as Max Verstappen closes in on a third straight title.
Verstappen grabs Suzuka pole as ‘enjoyable’ Japanese Grand Prix weekend continues
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Lewis Hamilton has challenged Mercedes to have “the greatest six months of development” over the winter in order to bridge the gap to the dominant Red Bull.
The seven-time world champion was critical of his team at the start of the year for not listening to his input as Mercedes instead opted to stick with the controversial ‘zero-sidepod’ design that ended their run of eight consecutive constructors’ titles in 2022.
Despite the improvements made to the W14 through the 2023 season, Hamilton, who finished a distant fifth at the Japanese Grand Prix, is under no illusions as to the size of the task.
“There are things that I've asked for that we've done in part of the direction for next year," Hamilton told Sky Sports F1. "I think all the points that George and I give have been fully listened to.
“I have no idea where the car is going to be next year but we are a long, long way away.
“The next six months have got to be the greatest six months of development that we've ever, ever had to close that gap. To be really banging on the door.”
Hamilton has been buoyed by the dramatic upturn in performance McLaren have enjoyed in 2023. At the start of the season, the Woking-based outfit laboured nearer the back of the field than the front until an upgrade package debuted in Austria transformed their fortunes.
Such has been the improvement, McLaren have established themselves as one of the teams most likely to challenge Red Bull, especially in qualifying trim.
Hamilton is adamant his former team have shown the rest of the grid the blueprint for success.
“The evidence is there at the McLarens, and we can't turn a blind eye to that,” Hamilton added. “We've got to look at what they've done and go in that direction. That is the direction. But I truly believe my team can do it.
“We've always been great at putting downforce on the car, it's just that with the way our car currently works, adding downforce isn't working - it just makes it bounce more.
“Hopefully, with the change in philosophy, we will be back to where this team deserve to be because this is a world championship team. We still are an amazing team and I have absolute faith in everyone. But decisions that are made in this period of time are critical for our trajectory."
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