Lewis Hamilton has warned that Mercedes’ looming major upgrades will not reap immediate benefits.
The Silver Arrows have delayed their car overhaul until next month’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola but the seven-time world champion insists it will not suddenly catapult them up the grid.
He said: “It will be the start of a new path for us. At the core, it’s still the same car but it’s part of the path to getting where we want to be. We’re not going to hit the ground running and be where we wanted to be at the start of the season.
“We’re not making crazy ground. It takes time to progress in the right direction. But I’m excited for it.”
Hamilton has struggled with the handling of the W14 all season long but surprised himself with a second-place finish behind Max Verstappen at the last race in Australia.
The 38-year-old said he hoped to be towards the front of the grid at this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
“The last race was really great for us – we worked really hard to get that result,” he said in Baku. “It won’t be easy to do [again]. Ferrari will be quick, Red Bull will be quick and the Aston Martins. We hope to be in the mix.”
Since Melbourne, Mercedes have undergone one major change with James Allison returning as technical director in a surprise move. And Hamilton said the decision would only bolster the team’s chances in 2023 and beyond.
“James has always been a part of his team, with his focus a little bit on another area before this,” he said. “Having him step back in to support is only going to strengthen the team going forward. He’s got an amazing amount of experience.”
