Hamilton claims new Mercedes team-mate must 'use experience' and be 'ready to work together'; Team hope to name driver this year
Wednesday 7 December 2016 16:45, UK
Lewis Hamilton insists he is focused on bringing Mercedes more success in 2017 and claims his new team-mate must use their 'experience' to develop the car.
The Silver Arrows won 19 out of 21 races in 2016 but have been rocked by the retirement of world champion Nico Rosberg, leaving them on the look-out for a new driver to partner Hamilton.
Mercedes protege Pascal Wehrlein is the current favourite for the seat, along with Williams' Valtteri Bottas, and Hamilton says he is ready to put in the hard yards with his new team-mate as he prepares for next season's rules overhaul.
"I'm waiting for all the bosses here. They're keeping it very secret," Hamilton said at a team event in Sindelfingen when asked about the drive. "I just hope the next driver who joins us has Mercedes through and through and is ready to work together.
"Next year is a new car and we really need to use experience to be able to develop this car and stay ahead of the Red Bulls and Ferraris.
"We go into another season in 2017 and I'm going to be giving it everything to keep Mercedes on top."
Mercedes hope to make a decision on Rosberg's replacement by the end of the year, but their options are restricted by the contractual status of the vast majority of the field.
Team chief Toto Wolff claims he has 'three roads' to follow in their search; Hiring a number two driver to guarantee points, promoting from within, or trying to lure a big-name driver from a rival.
But while he has watched his slightly younger team-mate retire from the sport at the age of 31, Hamilton believes he has a lot more to achieve in the sport over the next decade.
"I plan to be here for another 10 years at least," the three-time world champion added.
