Lewis Hamilton praised his Mercedes team for finally delivering at the Spanish Grand Prix with what he described as the best car he has driven in the past year and a half and one capable of potentially catching the championship leaders Red Bull.
In paying tribute to his team Hamilton acknowledged he was already looking forward to competing next season, indicating discussions on renewing his contract with Mercedes could wrap up shortly.
Hamilton moved from fourth to second in Barcelona and his teammate George Russell took third from 12th on the grid in a race dominated to victory by Max Verstappen in the Red Bull. However, this was a resurgence for Mercedes, moving in front of Ferrari and Aston Martin.
“Definitely the best the car has been for the last year and a half,” was Hamilton’s verdict. “It felt the best this weekend, it felt the best yesterday and better today than it’s felt for the past 14, 15 months. That’s super-encouraging, not only for me but for everybody in the team. This will be a big boost for everybody’s morale.”
They finished 24 seconds down the road from Verstappen so the gap to Red Bull remains a chasm but the seven-time champion was optimistic that now his team were in a position from which they could develop and in so doing suggested he intended to race on in 2024.
“I’m hoping at least by the end of the year it would be great if we can challenge Red Bull,” he said. “But I’m more focused on making sure that we have the car next year to challenge them from day one.
“The further we continue to push this car this year, the more that impacts next year also in some ways. But the more we learn about this car also sets us in the right direction.”
His Mercedes contract ends this season and when asked if a new deal had yet been done he suggested a conclusion with the team principal, Toto Wolff, may be imminent as he wanted to fight on against Verstappen.
“I haven’t signed anything yet but we’re meeting with Toto on Monday, so hopefully we can get something done. It is always something at the back of the mind, so once it’s done you can focus on the future. I want to keep going but I want to be where Max is and I am super-focused on getting to that point. There is a long way to go but there is time.”
