"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," says Lewis Hamilton after a sobering Suzuka weekend for Mercedes; Hamilton says McLaren's resurgence shows Mercedes "the direction"
Monday 25 September 2023 13:06, UK
Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes need to deliver the "greatest six months of development that we've ever had" if they are to fight with constructors' champions Red Bull from the start of next season.
Hamilton said he has "absolute faith" the team could achieve the feat amid the ongoing development of what they have already confirmed will be a much-changed 2024 car following two seasons of Red Bull domination.
But the seven-time champion, who finished what was a hard-fought but distant fifth in Sunday's Japanese GP, underlined that the challenge ahead was a big one.
Explaining how he and George Russell are playing their part in helping Mercedes' development path, Hamilton told Sky Sports F1: "There are things that I've asked for that we've gone in part of the direction for next year.
"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."
In a later post on Instagram, Hamilton reiterated his faith in Mercedes' engineers and said their record-breaking past history proved they as a team were "beyond proof" in terms of ability.
Hamilton also said Mercedes could learn lessons from the stunning resurgence in McLaren's form displayed during the course of this season.
McLaren made a dismal start to 2023 towards the back of the field but in-season changes to their car - which have brought them more into line with Red Bull's development philosophy - have worked wonders. Armed with fresh upgrades from Singapore last week, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri finished in strong second and third places at Suzuka behind Max Verstappen in Sunday's race.
Speaking about his old team, Hamilton added: "The evidence is there at the McLarens and we can't turn a blind eye to that. 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 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."
Hamilton was speaking at the end of what he admitted had been an "exhausting" race, with the Mercedes driver rarely out of the thick of battle across the 53 laps.
He picked up car damage at the start following contact from Sergio Perez and then twice had to fight off the advances of Russell inside the opening 20 laps as the team-mates engaged in thrilling wheel-to-wheel duels.
After Russell eventually got ahead by dint of a one-stop strategy, Hamilton caught him back up on fresher tyres after his second stop and was eventually let back through as Ferrari's Carlos Sainz piled on the pressure behind and Mercedes' drivers each debated strategy options with the team over the radio.
"Giving it absolutely everything," said Hamilton. "But it's tough on weekends like this particularly where the car is such a handful. Basically the exact same as last year, so feeling-wise the car felt just the same as last year, bouncing and sliding.
"So that's tough given how much work we have done to progress and we are not any closer to the front, at least here.
"But we did get ahead of one of the Ferraris which is great team work and great work from the guys in the pit stop and with strategy.
"A long way to go."
Will Max Verstappen wrap up his third world championship at the first attempt at the Qatar GP? Watch every session of the Sprint weekend live on Sky Sports F1 from October 6-8. Stream F1 on Sky Sports with NOW. Cancel anytime
