ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - DECEMBER 12: Second placed and championship runner up Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP looks dejected in parc ferme during the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on December 12, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
Lewis Hamilton believes that his Mercedes team have work to do and won’t be the favourites going into the new season
Lewis Hamilton will be aiming for his 8th championship title this season. However, with less than a week remaining for the season opener in Bahrain, the Brit feels his team is not ready to challenge for the championship right from the start.
All F1 teams are currently undergoing their second pre-season test in Bahrain and Hamilton implies the team has work to do heading into the 2022 F1 World Championship. Speaking to the media, Hamilton said, “It’s too early to have those kind of thoughts about the World Championship, but at the moment I don’t think we will be competing for wins.”
Hamilton believes Red Bull and Ferrari are in the best shape going into the new season with McLaren being very impressive as well. “We are not the quickest at the moment. I think Ferrari look to be the quickest and perhaps Red Bull and then maybe us or McLaren – but we’re currently not at the top”, he said. The Brit further added, “There is potential within our car to get us to the top. We’ve just got to learn to be able to extract it and fix some of the problems, which is what we are working on.”
Hamilton went into the final race of last season at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix level on points with Max Verstappen. Hamilton and Verstappen were level on 369.5 points with the Red Bull driver ahead thanks to his nine 2021 GP wins compared to Hamilton’s eight.
The Mercedes driver was 11 seconds ahead with six laps to go but then things changed drastically. A controversial decision by race director Michael Masi saw Max Verstappen make the most out of it, darting past Hamilton to win the championship.
A certain section of the F1 community feels Hamilton was hard done by Masi last season and was robbed of his title. Hamilton though has stated he doesn’t feel that way and made it a point that Verstappen deserves all the applause. However, we do sense a rivalry between the two top drivers and the 2022 season is either going to be Hamilton’s redemption or the season where Verstappen establishes himself as the best active driver in Formula One.
Lewis Hamilton will be going into the new season with the added motivation of putting the talks of his retirement to bed for once and for all. The 37-year old driver has shown no signs of age affecting his performance on the track. Mercedes were one of the best teams in the pre-season test running at the Circuit de Catalunya with Hamilton clocking the fastest time on the final day. However, they have been quiet in terms of notable laps in Bahrain.
With the new, revamped W13 car at his disposal, Hamilton will definitely fancy his chances.
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